Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Centre clears exploratory drilling in Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Hollongapar Gibbon WLS

Why in the News?

Exploratory drilling for oil and gas has been approved within the eco-sensitive zone surrounding the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary.

About the Hollongapar Gibbon WLS

  • Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary was initially established as Hollongapar Reserve Forest in 1997 and renamed in 2004.
  • It is the only habitat for hollock gibbons in India.
  • Located in Assam, with the Bhogdoi River along its northern boundary.
  • Biome classified as plains alluvial semi-evergreen forests with patches of wet evergreen forests.
  • Flora:
    • Upper canopy: Dominated by Hollong trees (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus), Sam, Amari, Sopas, Bhelu, Udal, and Hingori.
    • Middle canopy: Features Nahar trees.
    • Lower canopy: Composed of evergreen shrubs and herbs.
  • Fauna:
    • Primates: Includes Hoolock Gibbons, Bengal Slow Loris (only nocturnal primate in Northeast India), stump-tailed macaques, northern pig-tailed macaques, eastern Assamese macaques, rhesus macaques, and capped langurs.
    • Other mammals: Indian elephants, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, wild boars, civets, squirrels, and more.

About the Hoolock Gibbons:

  • Gibbons are the smallest and fastest apes, and they inhabit tropical and subtropical forests across Southeast Asia.
  • It is the only ape specie found in India.
  • They possess high intelligence, exhibit distinct personalities, and have strong familial bonds, reflecting characteristics similar to other ape species.
  • The current population of hoolock gibbons is estimated at around 12,000, found primarily in Northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and southern China.
  • Two distinct species, the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) and the western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), were previously reported in India.
  • Conservation Status
    • IUCN Red List: the western hoolock gibbon is classified as Endangered, and the eastern hoolock gibbon is classified as Vulnerable.
    • Both gibbon species in India are placed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

 

PYQ:

[2010] Consider the following pairs:

Protected Area:: Well-known for

1. Bhitarkanika, Orissa :: Salt Water Crocodile

2. Desert National Park, Rajasthan :: Great Indian Bustard

3. Eravikulam, Kerala :: Hoolock Gibbon

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Join us across Social Media platforms.

💥Mentorship January Batch Launch
💥💥Mentorship January Batch Launch