A core member of HURO Programme, Marak has spent over a decade working to protect one of India’s most threatened primates through rehabilitation, habitat awareness, and environmental education.
Guwahati, Dec 12: Noted conservationist from Garo Hills, Betsida CH Marak, has brought laurels for the state as he was conferred the Green Guru Award by Assam-based Balipara Foundation. The honour was bestowed on her due to her pioneering role in conservation of western hoolock gibbon and promoting community-driven ecological stewardship in Garo Hills.
Kaziranga King Cobra Team from Assam and H Zhimo of Nagaland were also conferred awards at the 13th Balipara Foundation Awards ceremony held on Thursday at Guwahati, recognizing exemplary contributions to wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship across Northeast India.
Since 2013, Balipara Foundation has highlighted and invested in the efforts of societal entrepreneurs who are working tirelessly to create social, economic, and environmental impact in protecting the essential natural resources and restoring the beauty of the Eastern Himalayas.
A core member of the HURO Programme, Marak has spent over a decade working to protect one of India’s most threatened primates through rehabilitation, habitat awareness, and environmental education. Her efforts have helped shape a holistic conservation model rooted in indigenous knowledge, scientific care, and strong community participation.
Marak, who has been leading community-centric conservation efforts from her village of Silsotchigre, has become a key figure in protecting one of India’s most threatened primates.
Since joining the HURO Programme in 2010, the “gibbon guardian” has overseen the Sonja Wildlife Rescue Centre, home to the world’s largest rescued population of western hoolock gibbons. Under her care, gibbons rescued from poaching, illegal captivity, and injury undergo a long and closely monitored rehabilitation process.
A major milestone came in 2016, when a rehabilitated pair was successfully released back into the wild—proof of the effectiveness of her scientific and culturally rooted approach.
Working with households, youth groups, and village leaders across Meghalaya’s fragmented forest landscapes, Marak has also become a powerful advocate for conservation awareness. She draws from Garo folklore—where the gibbon, Huro, is revered as a sacred being—to strengthen ecological values and discourage hunting and habitat destruction.
As principal of the Sonja Wildlife Conservation Middle School, she provides free education to 160 underprivileged Garo children, integrating ecology, wildlife protection, anti-poaching education, and nature-based learning to build a generation of environmentally conscious youth.
The honour adds to her rising international profile. In October 2024, Marak received her first global recognition from the IUCN Primate Specialist Group, acknowledging her impactful contributions to primate conservation and youth engagement across Meghalaya’s fragmented forest landscapes.
