The Descent of Ape

Forest canopy destruction in Arunachal Pradesh has forced gibbons, who live a swinging life on forest treetops, to walk on floors.

Forest canopy destruction in Arunachal Pradesh has forced gibbons, who live a swinging life on forest treetops, to walk on floors.

Hoolock gibbons are born to live a swinging life in lush forest treetops. Their feet aren’t adapted to walking on forest floors. Yet ten families of these gibbons are now forced to walk because of forest canopy destruction in Arunachal Pradesh. At Deolo, near the Lower Dibang Valley, they are scurrying uncertainly between broken tree clusters. Defenceless on the ground, they are attacked by stray dogs or trapped by children. Vivek Menon of International Fund for Animal Welfare-Wildlife Trust of India, who is raising funds for their translocation, says: “It is one of the most distressing conservation spectacles I have seen. Gibbons coming down like surrendered militants holding their hands above their heads.” Awaiting permits for translocation, the endangered hoolocks are swinging on weak branches of hope. With their habitat in tatters, more and more gibbons are living alone. Marooned, mateless and miserable in a shrinking canopy.

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