An intensive two-day workshop focused on the conservation of the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon was held on 10 and 11 July at the Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve headquarters in Miao, Arunachal Pradesh. The event marked a coordinated effort to address the growing threats facing the species in Northeast India.
The workshop was organised by biodiversity research and conservation group Aaranyak in partnership with the Namdapha National Park authorities. Support was extended by the Arcus Foundation and the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group’s Section on Small Apes.
Found only in the northeastern states of India, south of the Dibang-Brahmaputra River system, the Western Hoolock Gibbon is facing increasing pressure from habitat loss, hunting, and limited public awareness, particularly in regions such as Tripura and parts of Arunachal Pradesh. The workshop aimed to build capacity among frontline forest personnel, raise awareness in surrounding communities, and begin work towards a dedicated conservation action plan for the Kamlang–Namdapha landscape.
Arup Kumar Deka, Director of Namdapha National Park and Tiger Reserve, inaugurated the workshop and urged participants to use the platform to share knowledge and collaborate on solutions. He stressed the need for continued engagement to secure the species’ future.
Jumdo Geyi, Divisional Forest Officer of Kamlang Tiger Reserve, shared his own experience of witnessing the decline of the species in his home region. He called for more active involvement from local residents in conservation efforts and highlighted the significance of the gibbon as the state animal of Arunachal Pradesh.
Dr Dilip Chetry, who leads the Primate Research and Conservation Division at Aaranyak, welcomed participants and underlined the urgency of the conservation challenge. He noted that the Western Hoolock Gibbon could serve as a flagship species for wider biodiversity protection and called for cooperation from all sectors.
Participants included forest officials from Namdapha and Kamlang Tiger Reserves, residents from nearby villages such as Maithingpun, Khachang, and Miao, and researchers from Bodoland University, Gauhati University, and the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya.
Prof Hilloljyoti Singh, Head of Zoology at Bodoland University, spoke about his own field experiences and expressed optimism that the discussions would produce useful local insights. He co-ordinated the workshop’s sessions on developing a conservation strategy.
In total, 80 individuals took part in the workshop. Key speakers included Dr H.J. Singha (Bodoland University), Dr Prabal Sarkar (University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya), Mridy Paban Phukan (Wildlife Conservation and Study Centre), Arup Kumar Das (GIS and remote sensing), Simanta Medhi, Akshay Kumar Upadhyaya, and Dr Dilip Chetry from Aaranyak.
The event is being viewed as a first-of-its-kind initiative in Arunachal Pradesh to formally bring together forest staff, scientific researchers, and local community members to plan for the long-term protection of the Western Hoolock Gibbon in the Kamlang–Namdapha area.
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