A tiny western hoolock gibbon, India’s only ape species, is being nursed back to health at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near Kaziranga National Park after being rescued from Assam’s Golaghat district. The infant, estimated to be only three to four weeks old, was found clinging to the body of her mother, who had died from electrocution.

Following the rescue, the orphaned gibbon was shifted to the centre’s neonatal intensive care unit, where wildlife veterinarians and caregivers are providing round-the-clock care, including warmth, specialised nutrition and constant monitoring. The young ape has shown encouraging progress, gaining weight and beginning to climb and swing—natural behaviours essential for survival in the wild. To provide comfort and reduce stress, caregivers have also given her a soft plush toy, which she frequently hugs.

Rehabilitation of orphaned gibbons is a long and delicate process. Besides physical growth, the animal must develop the strength, coordination and natural instincts required for an eventual return to the forest, while minimising dependence on humans.

The rescue also highlights the growing threats faced by western hoolock gibbons, including habitat fragmentation, electrocution from power lines and other human-induced disturbances. As India’s only ape, the species is legally protected, but shrinking forest canopies continue to threaten its survival. Conservationists hope that with expert care and successful rehabilitation, the young gibbon will one day be released back into its natural habitat.

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