SHILLONG, SEPT 22: A highly endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon baby was born on September 18, in HURO Programme Rehabilitation center, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, from a couple under final rehabilitation stage.
The little baby, named Noree by the team, is very healthy and the mom is doing absolutely well too, taking very good care of her last born.
It is the second captive birth of a Western Hoolock Gibbon baby at HURO Programme, after Sanjay in 2014.
HURO being the only rescue center, in India and in the world, to take care exclusively of Western Hoolock Gibbon, the birth is welcomed as a hope for conservation of the species from all over the world.
HURO, which in Garo language stands for the Hullock Gibbon, is a programme being supported by Maneka Sanjay Gandhi and her largest animal welfare association in India, PFA. It was established in 2008.
“Little Noree will not be touched by human, and will remain under the care of his family,” HURO Programme Founder and Executive Director Florian Magne said.
He said, “Noree will be later released along with his family members, back to the wild, as soon as our team can find an appropriate and safe place for them, in Meghalaya.”
On the other hand, Florian said that the North-East India has lost over 95% of its Hoolock Gibbon population over the last past 50 years, mainly because of deforestation and illegal poaching.
“It is important to keep in mind that, being the only ape in India, Hoolock Gibbons are highly protected in annex one of the Indian Wildlife Act 1972 and in the same annex of the CITES Washington convention,” he said.
Earlier, Florian had also rescued and released Slow Loris and other animals which are captured illegally, not only in Garo Hills but also Ri Bhoi and any other place he can manage based on information.
By Our Reporter
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