Hoolock Gibbons in Saiha
~ A Note of mine that finds
place in JBNHS 110 (2); May - August 2013 ~
~ Many
thanks to BNHS ~
~ Images and video are from Mizoram but not mentioned in the note ~
THE HOOLOCK
GIBBON HOOLOCK HOOLOCK IN SAIHA,
MIZORAM, INDIA:
HISTORICAL
RECORDS, RECENT SIGHTINGS AND CONSERVATION ISSUES
Introduction
The Hoolock
Gibbon Hoolock hoolock occurs in the westernmost
extreme of the distribution of the 16 gibbon species currently recognized
(Geissmann 2007; Kakati et al. 2009).
Its range between the Brahmaputra and Chindwin rivers encompasses three countries
– Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar (Groves 1967). It is the only ape represented
in the Indian subcontinent (Geissmann et
al. 2009). The species has been on the list of the World’s 25 Most
Endangered Primates since 2006 (Walker et
al. 2007), with the global population estimated to be about 5,000 animals,
of which 2,600 to 4,450 are in India (Choudhury 2006; Molur et al. 2005) and about 200 in Bangladesh
(Kakati et al. 2009; Molur et al. 2005). Zonunmawia and Pradhan
(2004) state its Mizo name as hauhuk,
and Lorrain (1951) mentions the Mara name as veitu; Mizo and Mara are the two languages used in Saiha.
Mizoram (21,081 sq. km) is part of the north-eastern
hill states of India, that include Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, and Tripura. Some
of the best rainforest of north-east India are found in southern Mizoram,
covering parts of Lawngtlai and Saiha (Choudhury 2006). The forests of Mizoram are classified as ‘Cachar Tropical Evergreen
(IB/C3)’ and ‘Cachar Semi-evergreen (2B/C2)’ (Champion and Sheth 1968).
Saiha, is one of the 8 districts of Mizoram, situated at
its extreme south and covering an area of 1,965.81 sq. km. Saiha’s forests are
contiguous with the Blue Mountain National Park (22º 39' N; 93º 02' E; 50 sq.
km) of Lawngtlai district (Mizoram) located close to the Myanmar border and the
Chin Hills.
Hoolock Gibbons at the Aizawl Zoo
Hoolock Gibbons in Saiha
Historical
records: Lorrain (1912) provides
the earliest records of the occurrence of the Hoolock Gibbon from Saiha: “The
Gibbon Ape is seen swinging from branch to branch, calling out with its weird,
hollow sound . . . The trees were swarmed with long-tailed monkeys and Gibbon
Apes, the latter making no end of noise as the boats approached. The cries of
the Gibbon Apes were on every hand, and the experience was indeed a pleasant
one to those on an adventurous mind”. Parry
(1932) in his seminal work on Saiha stated: “Where there is no moon, gibbons
are said not to call in the daytime, but as soon as the moon reappears they
start shouting again.”
Recent
records: Hoolock gibbons
occur in all the districts of Mizoram, namely: Aizawl, Champhai, Kolasib,
Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Mamit, Saiha, and Serchhip. The main populations, however, survive in the
districts of Champhai, Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Mamit and Saiha (Choudhury 2006). Gupta and Sharma (2005) recorded a total of 72 gibbon groups in seven
different populations in Mizoram, covering an area of about 298 sq. km. Their survey included all the existing and
proposed protected areas and reserve forests. Of the 72 groups recorded in the study, 37
(51.4%) were outside protected areas or reserve forests. There are sizeable populations in
southern Saiha and Lawngtlai districts (Choudhury 2006).
My records: During February and March 2009, I was part of a
team that undertook surveys towards the formation of Tokalo Wildlife Sanctuary
in the area south of Palak Lake. In the course of this survey, we recorded the gibbon
at three different locations. The call was heard at Lomasu village (22º 6.172'
N; 92º 50.859' E) on the banks of Kolodyne river at 10:00 hrs on February 14. The
landscape was a mosaic of forest and orchards (primarily banana). The second
location (22º 3.048' N; 92º 51.977' E) was adjacent to the Kumai river at 08:30
hrs on February 17. The gibbons were calling in a dense forest with good canopy
cover. The third location (22º 1.307' N; 92º 52.391' E) was near Rala river at
15:30 hrs, where a juvenile and its mother were seen by colleagues in a dense
forest with good canopy cover on February 19. They may be part of a group that
was heard the subsequent morning about 200 m further south. Each of these sightings
was near a river - the survey was done along these rivers as they would form
the boundary of the then proposed wildlife sanctuary.
In addition to
the survey results, a juvenile gibbon was seen at the residence of a villager in
Saiha. The family had been given the ape by a relative, who had reportedly
captured it in the forests of Saiha south of Palak Lake.
Hoolock Gibbon at Saiha
Conservation Issues
In Mizoram,
people believe that possessing a gibbon tooth and a piece of bone will keep
them safe from misfortune (Gupta
and Sharma 2005). Many Lakhers (Maras)
wear bracelets made of gibbon bones to prevent rheumatism, for good health, and
to ward off black magic. Is is claimed that there would be no smallpox where
gibbons occur and that there have never been cases of smallpox in Lakher
country for this reason (Parry 1932). Two more prevalent myths I have come
across in Saiha make the gibbon particularly vulnerable.: i) The forelimbs
of the gibbon are placed over a pregnant women’s abdomen to lessen her pains
during child birth, and ii) Its
blood is considered an effective cure for blood pressure and malaria. These myths and other beliefs in the
Mara society exacerbate the pressures on wildlife (Ved and Lalramnuna 2008).
Poaching of wildlife, including
gibbons, for food and trade is common among the hill tribes of north-east India
Most of the
sites with gibbon populations (and other wildlife species) in Mizoram are not
under the direct control of the forest authorities, which suggests that a
participatory community-based conservation approach, including conservation education, is of utmost importance for their conservation (Gupta and Sharma 2005). Regular programmes
focusing on the need for conservation of wildlife, especially charismatic species such as the Hoolock Gibbon,
in these remote forested lands is essential. These programmes need to be
sensitive to local cultural values and should involve school students, youth
associations and village council members, and others that an integral part of
these societies (Ved and Lalramnuna 2008).
Hoolock Gibbon at Saiha
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to the Forest Department of Mara Autonomous
District Council for support and encouragement. Acknowledgements are due to the
entire survey team and the local people for
sharing their vast knowledge of the region and its wildlife, and for help and
cooperation during the survey. Sincere
gratitude is due to donors who supported Samrakshan’s efforts in Mizoram:
Rufford Small Grants, Columbus Zoo, Kidendran Nature Conservation Fund, and
United States Fish and Wildlife Service. I thank Kashmira Kakati for discussing
gibbons and sharing literature, and two anonymous reviewers for comments on the
manuscript.
References
Champion, H. & S.K. Seth (1968): A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of
India. Manager of Publications, Govt. of India, New Delhi. Pp 404.
Choudhury, A.U. (2006): The distribution
and status of Hoolock Gibbon, Hoolock
Hoolock in Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland in north east India . Primate
Conservation 20: 79–87.
Geissmann, T. (2007): Status
reassessment of the gibbons: results of the Asian Primate Red List Workshop. Gibbon Journal 3: 5–15.
Geissmann, T., M. Grindley,
F. Momberg, N. Lwin & S. Moses (2009): Hoolock gibbon and biodiversity survey and training in southern Rakhine Yoma , Myanmar
Gupta,
A.K. & N. Sharma (2005): Conservation status
of Hoolock Gibbon in Mizoram. In: Conservation
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