Planet Of The Apes

A journey through Assam’s Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in search of the only ape native to India.

- Shreya Singha Ray

In an isolated nook of North-East India, wrapped in semi-evergreen forests, guarded by tall Hoollong trees (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus) and the sound of birds echoing everywhere, one can suddenly be startled with a weird yet exotic chant. In the unique Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, that strange chant will drift from one tree to another, hidden away in the dense canopy. A keen eye could glimpse a figure with a deep black coat swinging from tree to tree. This is India’s only ape – the hoolock gibbon. If you happen to see an orange coat instead, it is a female Hoolock gibbon, one of many that can be found high atop the trees.

Hoollongapar is dedicated to the conservation of hoolock gibbons, and is also home to 6 other primate species. Formerly known as Hoollong forest, this region turned into a reserve forest in 1881 and then declared a sanctuary in 1997. Spread over 21 sq.km, this sanctuary is a prime habitat of the Western Hoolock gibbon – an endangered species according to IUCN’s Red List. Situated around 20 km away from Jorhat town, this sanctuary houses seven primates of our country – Assam macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump tailed Macaque, rhesus macaque, capped langur, western hoolock gibbon and the extremely rare and nocturnal Bengal slow loris.

The sanctuary offers a unique safari experience. The walking safari entails following trails on forest paths where Malayan giant squirrels, and occasional pugmarks of leopards keep one company.