Context:
Proposed oil exploration activities within the eco-sensitive zone of the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, may negatively impact local wildlife.
Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary:
- Location – Assam
- Known for its non- human primate diversity.
- Vegetation – Evergreen and Semi-evergreen forest.
- Flora – Hollong tree and Nahar
- Fauna – Hoolock Gibbons, & Bengal slow loris (Northeastern India’s only nocturnal primate)
- Also recognized as Important Bird Area by Bird Life International.
Hoolock Gibbon:
- Native to – India (Northeast).
- Characteristics –
- Form an arboreal species (animals that spend most of their lives in trees)
- Prefer to live in canopies of evergreen forests
- Western hoolock gibbon:
- Also known as – Hoolock hoolock
- Found in – All states of north-east, restricted between south of Brahmaputra river and east of Dibang river
- IUCN Status – Endangered.
- Eastern hoolock gibbon:
- Found in – Parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam
- IUCN Status – Vulnerable
Source: DTE
Previous Year Question
With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct?
1. It is spread over two districts.
2. There is no human habitation inside the Park.
3. It is one of the natural habitats of the Great Indian Bustard.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Normally human activities are not allowed in National Park but many villagers lived inside Desert National park, and they did not have access to even basic facility like road, electricity and water. In 2017, Supreme Court ordered the government to provide such facilities to them. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.