CWRC, 8th May 2026: A little hoolock gibbon was brought into the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Borjuri, near Kaziranga National Park, on 11th April 2026. Rescued from Kohora in Golaghat district of Assam, this young ape was just 3-4 weeks old when she was found clinging to her mother, who had been fatally electrocuted. Left orphaned and vulnerable, she was immediately placed in the neonatal ICU. 

The gibbon is undergoing regular checkups and is placed under specialised care | Photo © Mehedi Hassan/WTI

At this critical stage of life, survival and healthy development depend on round-the-clock care, including constant monitoring, proper nutrition, warmth, and careful handling. Despite her difficult start, we have observed some encouraging signs. The young gibbon has become curious, exploring her enclosure and even attempting to hone her natural instincts by climbing and swinging from branches, behaviours essential for life in the wild. Since gibbons are highly social animals, we have introduced an ape plush toy to provide comfort and companionship, and she is often seen hugging and playing with it.  

Rehabilitation is not a quick or easy process, and her journey back to the wild will require time, patience, and continued expert care. From developing physical strength to learning survival skills, every stage will be carefully guided by our team at CWRC.

The young gibbon has found comfort in a plush toy, which serves as a behavioural enrichment | Photo © Mehedi Hassan/WTI

Hoolock gibbons hold a unique place in India’s biodiversity as the country’s only ape species. Gibbons are highly specialised canopy-dwellers using their long arms for movement along tree branches (known as brachiating). Despite being protected under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, Hoolock gibbons continue to face severe threats from habitat fragmentation and declining populations.

This young gibbon’s story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, a reminder of the challenges wildlife faces and the impact timely intervention can make. Your support plays a crucial role in ensuring that animals like her get a second chance at life in the wild. Donate today.

Established in 2002, the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) is jointly run by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Assam Forest Department and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in Kaziranga, Assam. It is the only facility in India where orphaned and/or injured wild animals of several species are hand-raised and/or treated and subsequently returned to the wild.