Known for its scenic beauty, tucked away in the lap of nature, Meghalaya is home to many rare animal species. Western Hoolock Gibbon, the only ape species found in India, is inhabited in the 'Selbagre Hoolock Gibbon Reserve' in the West Garo hills district.
Hoolock Gibbon, popularly known as Huro in Tura, is amongst the rare species that is found in Nokrek National Park at West Garo hills district.
Situated about 40 km from Tura in Silsotchigre is the Sonja Wildlife Rescue Centre where the western gibbons are under rehabilitation.
The centre has been successfully creating awareness among the locals regarding conservation of the endangered gibbon.
Many youth engaged in rehabilitation activities at the centre are undergoing training under different ape activists.
"We have been running the centre for the last nine years. The gibbons are not caught from the wild, but have been rescued from the villagers, where they were held captive illegal. Till date, we have rescued and release a pair of gibbons," said Sandrick A. Sangma, the chief caretaker.
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Efforts made by the rescue centre are commendable as there had been little awareness about the apes in Garo hills.
It has succeeded in creating much needed attention among locals.
Last year, it successfully rehabilitated a pair of gibbons at the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve.
The tourists, who have been visiting the center, appreciate the efforts made to preserve rare western Hoolock Gibbon.
"This kind of places is very important as it helps creating awareness for the local people as well as about the visitors about the western Hoolock Gibbons," said Graham Chaplin, a tourist from England.
Many researchers and even students from abroad visit the center to conduct research and study about the rarely found ape. They underline the need for promotion of the centre as the ape itself is an attraction for tourists.
"I am doing a research on my tourism purpose and this is one of the places that can attract tourists easily and can be promoted. Seeing the conservation and rehabilitation of animals here it enlightens me to certain extend that this animals are really endangered and most of the researchers, people who wants to know about this animal can come and visit for better understand about the animal," said Gino Sangma, a researcher.
At present, there are eight gibbons at the rescue centre.
They are given proper care as per the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) norms.