Blog Post One

Celebrate International Gibbon Day with the Release of “Guardians of the Gibbons”

10.24.10

October 24, 2024

On World Gibbon Day, The Guardian Documentaries present "Guardians of the Gibbons: Can India Save Its Only Ape Species from Extinction?" This 19-minute documentary, released on The Guardian's website, intimately explores the threats faced by hoolock gibbons in Barekuri, Northeast India, and the unique relationship between the villagers and these endangered primates. This short documentary is a precursor to our upcoming feature-length film of the same subject, currently in post-production.

The hoolock gibbon, found only in a few locations worldwide, is integral to India’s biodiversity but faces dire threats from pollution, deforestation, and industrialization. As their forest habitat fragments, these nearly arboreal primates are increasingly cut off from essential food sources.

Directed by Ragini Nath and Chinmoy Sonowal, the film follows farmer Mohit Chutia, whose deep bond with the local gibbons has earned him the nickname "bandar" (monkey). Alongside researcher Ishika Ramakrishna, the community strives to safeguard their gibbon neighbors against the encroaching threats of habitat destruction.

This documentary's release highlights the alarming decline of hoolock gibbons, whose numbers have plummeted from approximately 12,000 to an estimated 5,000-10,000 individuals. In Barekuri, only 19 gibbons remain, including just four females, placing this population on the brink of extinction.

"It is deeply saddening to see that we are at a juncture where this endangered species could vanish from regions like Barekuri," say directors Nath and Sonowal. "Our story focuses on the challenges locals face amid resource development and how their survival intertwines with that of a species unable to advocate for itself."

The film also addresses the industrial pressures in Assam, particularly from oil and gas extraction. Despite recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising the community's coexistence with gibbons, industrial expansion continues to threaten this fragile ecological balance.

Read more about the documentary from the Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/23/guardians-of-the-gibbons-inside-the-indian-village-where-humans-and-hoolocks-live-side-by-side

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Rea