A lone Hoolock gibbon has been spotted unusually high in Arunachal Pradesh. Caught on camera traps in Namdapha National Park, the male ape was found at 2,267 meters above sea level—its highest-ever sighting within the reserve.
A Clue from the Clouds
This gibbon, India’s only native ape, is known to live up to 2,700 meters. Yet this sighting reaffirms how vital mid-altitude forests may become. As lowland habitats shrink and climate patterns shift, these elevations could serve as future refuges. Forest officials say the documentation is a key signal for focused conservation efforts in highland zones.
“This record highlights the growing importance of montane habitats,” said Arup Kumar Deka, Chief Conservator and Field Director of Namdapha Tiger Reserve. He added that the finding reflects the area’s changing ecological role in preserving threatened species.
Legal Protection and Habitat Dependence
The Hoolock gibbon, protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Act, relies heavily on tree canopies to feed and move. Found only in Northeast India and parts of Southeast Asia, its long-term survival depends on intact, undisturbed forests. Range Forest Officer Biri Karba praised the Namdapha field and research teams for capturing this rare sighting.
The Namdapha Tiger Reserve spans a rich range of ecosystems—from tropical rainforests to alpine meadows. The gibbon’s presence at such heights underlines the urgent need to protect these forested slopes before they vanish.
(Inputs From Northeast News)
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