Meghalaya’s Betsida Marak wins Global Gibbon Champion Award
In a remarkable honour, Betsida Ch Marak from Meghalaya has been awarded the inaugural Global Gibbon Champion Award 2024 for her exceptional contributions to gibbon conservation.
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Betsida Marak, a dedicated manager at the Sonja Wildlife Rescue Centre in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, has been recognised for her outstanding work in managing the world's largest rescued gibbon population, consisting of 10 individuals. This prestigious award is spearheaded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Primate Specialist Group Section on Small Apes to highlight and support local conservationists in habitat countries.
"I am delighted to present you with the inaugural Global Gibbon Champion Award 2024 for your outstanding work in gibbon rescue, rehabilitation, and reintroduction. You will receive an engraved plaque and a cash award of US$500. Your commitment to the western hoolock gibbon, your local community and cultural heritage, and your engagement with the wider gibbon conservation community is exemplary," said Susan M. Cheyne, Vice Chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group Section on Small Apes.
The Global Gibbon Champion awards aim to provide international recognition and support for capacity strengthening and increased access to opportunities and resources that local gibbon NGOs need to continue their conservation work. The award is divided into two categories: Rescue Centers, for those working in rescue centers to rescue, rehabilitate, and release gibbons back into the wild, and Wild, for those working to conserve wild gibbon populations. Betsida received the award in the Rescue Centers category.
Florian Magne, Programme Director and Founder of the Sonja Wildlife Rescue Centre, lauded Betsida's achievements. "As a Programme Director and the programme Founder, I am incredibly proud of Betsida's achievement, dedication through time, resilient spirit through highs and lows, and unmatched human qualities. She has made the programme functional in very difficult times and never backed down regardless of the challenges," Florian remarked.
He further added, "She managed to encapsulate gibbon management, human management, and children management within a rare set of qualities and know-how."
Expressing her joy, Betsida Marak told, "This award has filled me with immense joy. I wasn't expecting such an award, and I never thought my silent dedication to the conservation of gibbons would be recognised. This award also goes to my team and my project director."
Betsida Marak's commitment extends beyond wildlife to human welfare. As the head of the Sonja Wildlife Conservation Medium School, she provides free education to 160 underprivileged rural children, reflecting her holistic approach to conservation and community upliftment.
The population of hoolock gibbons in Meghalaya is estimated to be around 500 individuals, with the highest density in Garo Hills. According to the IUCN, western hoolock gibbons are endangered, and their numbers are dropping rapidly due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting. Betsida's work is vital in addressing these challenges and ensuring the survival of these remarkable primates.
(Article by Roopak Goswami)