Key Facts about Hoolock Gibbon

About Hoolock Gibbon:

• Gibbons, the smallest and fastest of allapes, live in tropical and subtropical forests in the southeastern part of Asia.
• The hoolock gibbon is one of 20 species of gibbons on Earth. 
• Distribution:
  • Its distribution in Southeast Asia spans India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and southern China.
  • It is the only ape found in India.
  • In India, it is found in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, south of the Brahmaputra.
  • Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam has the largest concentration of the hoolock gibbon.
• It is categorised into Eastern Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) found in a specific region of Arunachal Pradesh and Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) distributed elsewhere in the northeast. 
• Features:
  • Both male and female gibbons are about the same size, but they differ considerably in colors. 
  • Males are black colored with remarkable white brows, while females have grey-brown fur, which is darker at the chest and neck. 
  • White rings around the eyes and around the mouth give their faces a mask-like appearance.
  • They are diurnal and arboreal, brachiating through the trees with their long arms.
  • They are monogamous (same partner throughout life).
  • They live in small families, including males, females and their young ones, and communicate with other gibbons by vocalisation.
  • The loud calls of the gibbon are used to identify individuals within and outside the family group.
  • Like all apes, they are extremely intelligent, with distinct personalities and strong family bonds. 
  • Life span: 25 years
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List:
    • Eastern Hoolock Gibbon: Vulnerable 
    • Western Hoolock Gibbon: Endangered

Both are on Schedule I of theWildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.

Q1: What are apes?

Apes are humanity’s closest living relatives. In fact, people are apes; humans share about 98 percent of their DNA with chimpanzees. The non-human types of apes are divided into two groups: great apes — gorillas, bonobos, chimpanzees and orangutans — and lesser apes — gibbons and siamangs. Apes are not monkeys; they belong to different branches of the Simian infraorder, and there are several physical differences. Apes do not have tails, while most monkeys do, and apes are typically larger than monkeys. Apes’ noses are short and broad, while monkeys’ noses are more snout-like. Apes also have larger brains than monkeys, and they are capable of using tools and learning language.

Source: Railways to build canopy bridges across track in Assam gibbon habitat