The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has greenlit exploratory oil and gas drilling in Assam’s Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, sparking concerns about balancing energy needs with conservation of the endangered Hoolock gibbon and other unique wildlife. The decision, made during the NBWL’s 81st meeting, involves a 4.4998-hectare project, including a well pad and access road, located 13 kilometers from the sanctuary. The site is part of the AA-ONHP-2017/4 block and falls within the sanctuary’s 264.92-square-kilometer eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). A site inspection by government officials and wildlife experts – representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and Assam’s Forest Department – last November found that exploratory drilling would have limited immediate environmental impact. However, they strongly opposed commercial drilling within the ESZ, citing the sanctuary’s critical role in preserving biodiversi...