HOLLANGAPAR
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: ENVIRONMENT
NEWS: An approval by the Union
environment ministry for exploratory oil and gas drilling in parts of
Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, may put the endangered Hoolock gibbon
at further risk.
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
Hoollongapar
Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location:
Jorhat district, Assam, India.
- Established:
Wildlife sanctuary status granted in 1997.
- Significance:
Only sanctuary in India named after a gibbon; known for dense gibbon
populations.
- Altitude:
Ranges from 100 to 120 meters (330 to 390 feet).
- Topography:
Gently slopes from southeast to northwest.
- River:
Bhogdoi River creates a waterlogged region with semi-hydrophytic plants
along the sanctuary's border.
- Flora:
- Upper Canopy:
Dominated by the Hollong tree.
- Middle Canopy:
Dominated by the Nahar tree.
- Lower Canopy:
Composed of evergreen shrubs and herbs.
- Fauna:
- Unique Species:
Hoolock gibbons (India’s only gibbons), Bengal slow loris (Northeastern
India’s only nocturnal primate).
- Other Species:
Indian elephants, tigers, leopards, jungle cats, wild boar, three types
of civets, four types of squirrels, stump-tailed macaques, northern
pig-tailed macaques.
Western Hoolock Gibbon:
- Habitat:
Northeast
India (south of Brahmaputra and east of Dibang), eastern Bangladesh,
northwest Myanmar.
- Conservation
Status: Endangered
(IUCN Red List).
Eastern Hoolock Gibbon:
- Habitat:
Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam (India), southern China, northeast Myanmar.
- Conservation
Status: Vulnerable
(IUCN Red List).
Legal Protection in India:
- Both species are listed on
Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/editorials/biodiversity-needs-a-win-against-oil-and-gas-101722438815946.html