Western Hoolock Gibbon baby born at rehabilitation centre

A highly endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon baby was born at a special rehabilitation centre for the only ape species in Meghalayas West Garo Hills district, officials said today.
"The baby was born to a couple under final rehabilitation stage at the HURO Programme Rehabilitation Center on September 18," HURO Programme Founder and Executive Director SVAA Chairman/ HURO Programme Meghalaya, Florian Magne said.
This is the second successful captive birth of a western hoolock gibbon at the Centre, the first being in 2014, he said.
The little baby, named Noree, is very healthy and the mother is doing absolutely well too, taking very good care of her last born, Florian said.

"HURO being the only rescue center, in India and in the world, to take care exclusively of Western Hoolock Gibbon, the birth is welcomed as a hope for conservation of the species from all over the world," the conservationist said.
Florian said Noree will not be touched by human and will remain under the care of his parents and the family will be later released back to the wild, as soon as our team can find an appropriate and safe place for them in Meghalaya.
The HURO official said that North-East India has lost over 95 per cent of its Hoolock Gibbon population in the past 50 years mainly because of deforestation and illegal poaching.

Being the only ape in India, the Hoolock Gibbons are highly protected animal species under the Indian Wildlife Act 1972 and the CITES Washington convention.