Khasi community and conservationists on Friday observed the World Gibbon Day 2025 in Sreemangal of Moulvibazar district, with a call for supporting community-based forest and wildlife conservation efforts.
Hoolock gibbons are among the world鈥檚 most threatened primates, listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
To celebrate the global day, Western Hoolock Gibbon Conservation Project and Khasi people-led Mariang for Community and Ecosystem Services jointly organised a discussion, which was also attended by former and present officials of Bangladesh Forest Department.聽
In the discussion, Mariang presented an idea to establish buffer zones for wildlife in the 60 punjees or Khasi peoples鈥� villages. Each buffer zone would serve as a sanctuary for wild animals, including the hoolock gibbons, and also help maintain forest-based livelihoods of the Khasi community.
Urging local and global support to materialise the idea, representatives from the Khasi community said that they are deeply rooted in Sylhet鈥檚 ecosystem stewardship and preserved its forests and wildlife through sustainable practices, but yet to receive recognition.
Forest department鈥檚 former chief conservator of forest, Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, former zoology professor at Chittagong University M Farid Ahsan, Khasi Social Council president Gidison Pradhan Suchiang, divisional forest officer Abul Kalam, Mariang executive director Antony Mukim, and gibbon expert Tarik Kabir, among others were present.
