Reroute rail track through gibbon sanctuary

Syllabus: Environment conservation

Context: Hollongapar sanctuary has become a ‘forest island’, a Wildlife Institute of India report said

Primatologists have suggested rerouting a 1.65-km long railway track that has divided Hollongapar sanctuary in eastern Assam sanctuary dedicated to the western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock).
Housing about 125 hoolock gibbons, India’s only ape, the sanctuary in the Jorhat district covers an area of 21 sq. km.
Like the other 19 gibbon species on earth, it is marked endangered due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation.
The sanctuary has become a ‘forest island’ – lost connectivity with surrounding forest patches – gibbons are exclusively arboreal animals inhabiting upper canopy – particularly sensitive to canopy gaps
Suggested step: designing an artificial canopy bridge to facilitate the movement of the hoolock gibbons across the broad-gauge line within the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. The track is yet to be electrified.

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