Stanzin Zangmo

Innovation-led conservation! Good to see that mitigation measure such as this canopy bridge made over a railway passing through Assam has started being used by Hoolock Gibbon. This shows science-led small-scale efforts can also be of great help in biodiversity conservation.

A landmark moment for gibbon conservation in India! 🐵 A male Western Hoolock Gibbon was today recorded crossing the canopy bridges with safety nets over the railway line in Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. This is the first confirmed use by a gibbon in the Sanctuary — and the first documented use of a canopy bridge structure over a railway line anywhere in the world! The bridges were designed and deployed as a mitigation measure for the electrification works on the existing single-track Lumding-Dibrugarh railway line passing through the Sanctuary, during February-March 2025. A proud moment for all stakeholders and a ray of hope for mitigating the impacts of linear infrastructure on India’s only ape. However, long-term solutions — careful infrastructure planning and eco-conscious siting and creating reforested corridors to connect isolated populations — remain critical for the long-term survival of exclusively arboreal and threatened species like gibbons. Grateful to the Assam Forest Department and all partners involved in the design, deployment, and continued monitoring of the canopy bridge structures. @moefcc @CMOfficeAssam @assamforest @RailMinIndia @RailNf @aaranyak @IUCNssc @IUCN_Gibbon @nandhakumarn @dilip_aaranyak @rrs_jha @stanzin_zaangmo @rameshpandeyifs @GobindsagarBha1 @wii_india @DfoJorhat @gopigv #WesternHoolockGibbon #GibbonConservation #HollongaparGibbonSanctuary #CanopyBridges #WildlifeMitigation #LinearInfrastructure #MitigationHierarchy

📽️ Watch our short film, a result of #WIIEIACell's research with @assamforest. We aim to spread awareness and dessiminate our findings to further #gibbonconservation efforts. 🌳

#DFCCIL’s #linearinfrastructure #EDFC through #Jharkhand’s forests will adversely impact native wildlife/ habitats. Our research at #ARS2023 emphasises that #ComprehensiveEcologicalAssessments with regular, inclusive monitoring must to reduce damage. @moefcc, @wii_india, @vrtiwari1 @RailMinIndia, @dfccil_india, @JharkhandCMO, @JharkhandVan, @nAVEnaturalist, @Avinashyadv95, @Abhintothewild, @AlexJacob11, @Unquitesoul, @RoshmeBorgohain, @Nemophile_GD, @stanzin_zaangmo, @NonitaRana04, @rrs_jha, @lalanikawlni, @jajohny2013, @gopigv

Check our poster at #ARS2023 arguing for rerouting of the single-track railway from #HollongaparGibbonSanctuary as most viable long-term strategy to conserve #WesternHoolockGibbon; rope-based #artificialcanopybridges will help meanwhile. #WIIEIACell 🌳 @moefcc @wii_india @RailMinIndia, @CMOfficeAssam, @assamforest, @DfoJorhat, @RailNf, @aaranyak, @IUCNssc, @IUCN_Gibbon, @nandhakumarn, @dilip_aaranyak, @rrs_jha, @stanzin_zaangmo, @gopigv, @vrtiwari1

Highlight of #ARS2023: Unveiling a series of impactful publications that symbolize the intensive research endeavors of the Wildlife Institute of India. These works promise to be invaluable assets in the realm of wildlife conservation and research. @moefcc @wii_india @vrtiwari1 #wildlife #WildlifeConservation #conservation