Assam: Oil drilling threatens endangered hoolock gibbons in Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
Guwahati: A looming threat has emerged for the endangered hoolock gibbon in Assam as the Union Environment Ministry has given its nod for exploratory oil and gas drilling in the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in Jorhat district.
Science activist Mowsam Hazarika has sounded an alarm, urging immediate steps to protect the vulnerable primate.
Cairn India, a subsidiary of Vedanta Ltd., is eyeing a 4.4998-hectare plot within the sanctuary's ecologically sensitive zone for its drilling operations.
Despite the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) putting the decision on hold, the Assam government and regional environment bodies have given preliminary approval.
Experts warn that even minor disruptions in the habitat of the canopy-dwelling gibbons can have severe consequences for their survival. Primatologist Dilip Chetry underscores the species' sensitivity to environmental changes and its role as a crucial indicator of overall ecological health.
The specter of a potential environmental disaster, similar to the devastating Baghjan oil well blowout, looms large. While the FAC has imposed conditions for safety and erosion control, critics argue that these measures may not be sufficient to safeguard wildlife.
Hazarika has demanded a comprehensive wildlife management and conservation plan before any drilling activities commence. He highlighted the presence of other endangered species like elephants and leopards in the area, emphasizing the potential for widespread ecological damage.
Drawing a parallel with the FAC's rejection of similar proposals for Dibru Saikhowa National Park, Hazarika stressed the need for applying the same stringent standards to Hoollongapar Sanctuary to prevent environmental degradation.
The activist's call for action has ignited a debate on balancing development with conservation, with the fate of the hoolock gibbon hanging in the balance.