Tura, Nov 4: In a remarkable display of compassion and coordinated conservation action, a female Western Hoolock Gibbon that had lived with a local family for nearly 13 years was rescued from Balmikram Village near Dainadubi in North Garo Hills. The operation was jointly conducted by the A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM), its Dainadubi Regional Unit, and the Sonja Wildlife Rescue Team.
According to AHAM officials, the gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) had been adopted as an infant by a compassionate family after being found abandoned in a nearby reserve forest—possibly orphaned after a predator attack. For over a decade, the family cared for her, providing food and shelter, in what wildlife experts describe as a “rare and touching example of human–animal coexistence.”
Upon learning of the gibbon’s situation, AHAM reached out to the Sonja Wildlife Rescue Centre, which immediately deployed a team of expert handlers. The joint team successfully retrieved the gibbon and transported her to the rescue centre, where she is now undergoing veterinary care, nutritional rehabilitation, and behavioural therapy to prepare her for eventual rewilding.
“This rescue is not just about recovering an endangered animal — it is a story of human compassion and shared responsibility,” said an AHAM spokesperson. “We deeply appreciate the local family who nurtured the gibbon for over a decade, and the Sonja Wildlife Rescue team for their technical expertise.”
Experts at the centre confirmed that the gibbon is in stable condition but will remain under close observation until she regains her natural instincts. Once deemed fit, she will be released back into her natural forest habitat under monitored conditions.
The Western Hoolock Gibbon, India’s only ape species, plays a crucial role in forest ecology through seed dispersal. It is listed as Endangered by the IUCN and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The species has suffered sharp population declines across Northeast India, primarily due to deforestation, habitat loss, and illegal wildlife trade.
AHAM President George Prince Ch. Momin lauded the rescue as a “reflection of Meghalaya’s deep-rooted environmental ethics,” adding, “Every life in the wild matters. We will continue to support authorities and conservation groups to safeguard our region’s biodiversity.
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