Apes’ population in Gibbon increase

JORHAT (Assam), Jan 30: Primate population in Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam has increased to 60 during the past three years marking a positive trend in wildlife conservation. Jorhat District Forest Officer MN Duarah told PTI today that the population of the Gibbons, an endangered species, was 50 in 1998 where it rose to 60 by the end of 2001. There are at present 20 families of primates as against 17 in 1998. Duarah said the increase in the number of gibbons by over 10 within three years was quite significant going by the mating characteristic of the apes as Gibbons stick to only one partner and live like human families in specified territories. The 19 sq km sanctuary along the Assam-Nagaland border is the only wildlife sanctuary meant exclusively for apes. Besides the apes, the sanctuary is home to six more species of prime mammals like deer, leopard, tiger, jungle cats, wild pig, six varieties of reptiles and 14 species of birds, Duarah added.