Deep inside a forest near Kohora in Assam’s Golaghat district, a tiny western hoolock gibbon refused to let go of her mother.
The adult had died from electrocution. Barely three to four weeks old, the infant had survived, but she had lost the one thing every young child — human or animal — depends on completely: its mother.
On 11 April 2026, forest officials rescued the orphan and rushed her to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), jointly run by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) near Kaziranga National Park.
At the centre, veterinarians admitted her to the neonatal intensive care unit, where her recovery began with specialised milk, round-the-clock monitoring, and constant care.
The western hoolock gibbon is India’s only ape species, making every rescue especially significant.
The long road to recovery
The infant was far too young to survive on her own.
Wildlife veterinarians closely monitored her health while caregivers recreated, as much as possible, the comfort and security she would have received from her mother.
Within a month, there were encouraging signs.
She had gained around 160 grams, taking her weight to 670 grams. More importantly, she had begun behaving like a young gibbon again — exploring branches, attempting short climbs, and instinctively reaching upwards.
The young western hoolock gibbon clings to a soft ape plush toy for comfort while resting or moving around her enclosure. Photograph: (International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI))
Her diet has also expanded beyond milk to include figs, bamboo shoots, and Bauhinia leaves, foods she would naturally eat in the wild.
Knowing that young gibbons are highly social animals, caregivers introduced a soft ape plush toy to provide comfort.
Today, she curls up with it while resting and often carries it around her enclosure.
But rehabilitating an orphaned gibbon is a slow process that can take months, or even years.
Building strength is only one part of the journey. She must also learn how to balance, swing through the canopy, forage, and develop the natural behaviours she will need to survive in the wild. Throughout the process, human interaction is kept to a minimum to prevent her from becoming dependent on people.
The ultimate goal is to prepare her for a safe return to the forest.
Why this rescue matters
The western hoolock gibbon holds a unique place in India’s wildlife.
It is the country’s only ape species and spends almost its entire life in the forest canopy.
Using a form of movement called brachiation, gibbons swing effortlessly from branch to branch with their long arms, rarely coming down to the ground.
But that dependence on connected treetops also makes them especially vulnerable.
Across parts of northeast India, fragmented forests and expanding power infrastructure have made movement increasingly dangerous. When canopy cover is broken, gibbons are often forced to cross roads, settlements, or electrical lines, putting them at risk of electrocution and other human-induced threats.
Although the species receives the highest level of protection under India’s Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, conservationists estimate that fewer than 5,000 western hoolock gibbons remain in the country.
For a species with such a small population, the loss of even one breeding adult can have long-term consequences.
Saving one orphan, therefore, is also about protecting the future of the species.
The conservation philosophy behind the rescue
The baby gibbon’s rescue reflects a conservation approach that Indian Forest Service officer Sonali Ghosh has championed for more than 25 years.
For Ghosh, conservation is not only about rescuing injured animals. It begins with protecting the forests, wetlands, and connected landscapes that allow wildlife to thrive in the first place.
Throughout her career, she has worked across some of India’s most important protected areas with the belief that the best conservation efforts create ecosystems where animals do not need rescuing at all.
That philosophy shaped her tenure as the first woman Field Director of Kaziranga National Park.
In 2025, this landscape-first approach earned Ghosh the prestigious WCPA-Kenton Miller Award, making her the first Indian to receive the global honour for excellence in protected area leadership.
Her approach recognises that no species exists in isolation. Connected forest canopies allow hoolock gibbons to move safely through the treetops, while healthy wetlands support birds and countless other forms of wildlife.
In 2025, this landscape-first approach earned Ghosh the prestigious WCPA-Kenton Miller Award, making her the first Indian to receive the global honour for excellence in protected area leadership.
The award recognised not just decades of service, but a vision of conservation built on the understanding that every rescued animal is part of a much larger ecosystem.
Beyond one orphan
Today, the young gibbon’s world is still small.
She spends her days feeding, climbing, resting, and slowly growing stronger under expert care.
Her journey has also drawn attention to a little-known species that many Indians have never seen.
With fewer than 5,000 western hoolock gibbons left in the country, every successful rescue offers hope—not just for one orphan, but for the future of India’s only ape.
