Assam implements canopy bridges to protect Hoolock Gibbons

Assam is advancing conservation efforts for the Hoolock Gibbon, India’s only native ape species, through science-led initiatives designed to mitigate habitat fragmentation. On World Gibbon Day, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the success of canopy bridges at Hollongapar, which allow these arboreal primates to cross railway tracks safely within the tree canopy rather than descending to ground level.

State-level celebrations held in the Tinsukia district, organized by the government and the non-profit Aaranyak, focused on the challenges of habitat loss caused by tea estates and infrastructure. The events included educational seminars and community plantation drives to promote human-animal coexistence. Conservationists are calling for stricter restrictions on industrial expansion near wildlife zones to prevent localized extinction of the species.