Assam-based conservation biologist and Aaranyak's well-known primatologist Dr Dilip Chetry attended the plenary session as one of the co-speakers at the 2nd Conference of the Association of Indian Primatologists (AIP) from February 9-11 at the University of Mysore along with Prof Mewa Singh, a famous primatologist from India.

In this conference the focus of the discussions was on behaviour and interactions between humans and primates, conservation and outreach activities for primates, Ecology and evolution of primates. This conference was sponsored by Assam based research-driven conservation organisation Aaranyak, Primate Conservation Inc., University of Mysore, and IUCN Primate Section on Small Apes and was hosted in Mysore, India.

In a special session of “In the memories of Surendra Mal Mohnot” the contribution of Prof Surendra Mal Mohnot in the conservation of primates in Northeast India was highlighted.

Dr Chetry, who heads the primate conservation initiatives of Aaranyak mentioned that Prof Mohnot was an important figure in the development of the Gibbon Conservation Centre at Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam, where Aaranyak and the Assam Forest Department organised a variety of training, education, and research programmes on Hoolock gibbon in particular and primates in general.

Furthermore, Dr Chetry emphasised the work done by Aaranyak to conserve primates in Northeast India, especially the Hoolock gibbon. Dr Chetry also highlighted the different training programme of Aaranyak for the capacity building of Forest officer/staff taking Hoolock gibbon as flagship species for the conservation of biodiversity.

Association of Indian Primatologists (AIP) is a community of Indian students, researchers, conservationists, and enthusiasts keen on promoting Indian primates, primatology, and conservation initiatives to a larger audience, and enabling greater cooperation between individuals and agencies working towards a common goal of primate welfare in India.

In another session, researcher with Aaranyak Rumana Maheen presented her presentation under the title “An integrative approach to the study of the macaque presence and distribution in Tezu, Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, India”. She highlighted the application of molecular sampling and camera trapping to effectively map the presence and distribution of macaque in a complex habitat in Arunachal Pradesh.