Maligaon, May 30 (MExN): The NFR Railway, in consultation with Assam State Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India and all stakeholders have decided to install Canopy Bridges inside the Gibbon sanctuary. Railway line that passes through the Gibbon sanctuary in the Jorhat district of Assam inhabits the rare Hollock Gibbon. “These apes are highly arboreal species,” Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer, NFR said in a press release.
These Canopy Bridges will be installed at several identified points to facilitate the easy access of arboreal species for movement from one part of the railway track to the other. Assam State Forest Department has already submitted design with estimate for installation of Canopy Bridges over the railway tracks. The design was prepared by Wildlife Institute of India in consultation with NF Railway. NF Railway has already deposited the estimated amount in the month of February, 2024 for installation of the Canopy Bridge by the forest department of Assam.
The ends of the Canopy Bridges as well as the knots will be secured and clamped/tightened using appropriate and high-grade fastening materials and techniques. As a fail-safe mechanism, safety nets will be installed below the main twin-rope bridge to save the species, accidentally falling off the bridges. The Canopy Rope Bridges will be installed in such a way that, over the long-term natural elements like lianas and creepers will be guided along the rope bridges so as to help them creep and form part of a hybrid (or semi-artificial) design centred around the ropecanopy bridge.
