Asom: World's first bridge for gibbons

Meleng (Jorhat), June 12: The Meleng forest, the habitat of the only ape in the country, the hollok gibbon, will now add another feather to its cap with foresters planning to build the world's first bridge exclusively for primates here.

For more than a century, the two groups of gibbon families had to remain detached at the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, about 23 km from the upper Asom town of Jorhat due to a railway track which bisected the sanctuary.

Consequently, the alienation resulted in the retardation of their breeding and foresters even feared that the endangered primates might become extinct.

Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Gunin Saikia said the railway track, built in the late 1890s, separated the 22 families of gibbons housed in the sanctuary.

''On one side (Compartment I) of the track are three gibbon families and on the other (Compartment IV), 19 families. They have never come in contact with each other and therefore their mating has been checked,'' Mr Saikia said.

Primate Expert Dilip Chetry, who is associated with Wildlife NGO Aaranyak and has established the Gibbon Conservation Centre at the precincts of the sanctuary, said the uniqueness of the gibbon was its monogamous character.

''Their sexual activity is restricted to their 'wives'. Male gibbons never couple with anyone else except for one female. So for gibbons to breed, it is essential that the adult male gibbons couple with a virgin female,'' Mr Chetry said.

''What is more, the gibbons are 'top canopy dwellers', that is, they never tend to come to the ground. They will never come to the ground and cross the track. And it is because of this character that the two groups of gibbon families have never come in touch with each other, thereby preventing the coupling of the adult gibbons,'' Mr Chetry added.

The ACF said the Forest Department sent a proposal to the Railway Department for setting up a 'natural bridge' over the track to unite the gibbon families.

''We have communicated with the Railways and they are considering the proposal. Union Minister Bijoy Krishna Handique, who represents the Jorhat constituency, is also expected to take up the matter with the Railway Ministry. We hope something positive comes up soon,'' Mr Saikia told UNI.

The bridge, he said, ought to 'natural'. ''If we can't erect a natural bridge over the track, the structure should at least appear natural, that is, full of leaves and branches to 'dupe the gibbons'.

Otherwise, they won't take the route and cross over to the other side,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the Railways was considering the feasibility of the proposal, official sources said.

Recently, Aaranayak, in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, initiated a plantation drive along both sides of the track.

Mr Chetry said around 3,000 canopy trees had already been planted up to a distance of one km.

''Once the plants grow, they can serve as a link between the ape families. Then the gibbons would be able to cross the track through the canopy tops,'' he said.

There are about 71 hollok gibbons in the sanctuary, which is the only forest in the country to be named after a primate species.

Besides, the 20.98 sq km forest has a unique distinction of being one of the rarest habitats of the world to house as many as seven primate species, taking the total primate population to over 200.

UNI