With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?

22. With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. A Sanctuary in North-east India is home to this ape species listed as Endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

2. They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees.

3. They possess a strong and heavy build like gorillas, yet are remarkably agile tree climbers.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only

Answer: (b) 1 and 2

• Statement 1 is correct: The Hoollongapar (Hollongapar) Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam (Northeast India) is a key habitat for the Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), which is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

• Statement 2 is correct: Like other gibbons (lesser apes), they are highly specialized for brachiation—swinging hand-over-hand through the forest canopy using elongated arms and flexible shoulder joints.

• Statement 3 is incorrect: They are small and slender (typically 6–9 kg), not strong/heavy-built like gorillas (great apes). Their lightweight build supports agile arboreal movement.

Evaluation of proper nouns and appearances

Key proper nouns/terms

• Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock): India’s only ape species (lesser ape family Hylobatidae); found mainly in Northeast India (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, etc.), Bangladesh, and parts of Myanmar.

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List: Official global conservation status authority; lists the species as Endangered.

• Sanctuary in North-east India: Primarily refers to the Hoollongapar/Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary (Assam), dedicated to this species (also other protected areas exist).

Where they appear

• PIB / government sources: Occasional mentions in broader wildlife conservation updates, Assam Forest Department materials, and references linked to Schedule I protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Not a frequent standalone PIB focus but appear in official sanctuary and biodiversity reports.

• The Hindu: Regular coverage, including detailed features on conservation challenges, population decline (from ~100,000 to under 5,000), habitat fragmentation, and recent innovations (e.g., December 2025 article on stress tests/drones for protection; August 2025 piece on calls for a dedicated “Project Gibbon”). Frequent references to the Hollongapar Sanctuary and IUCN status.

• Indian Express: Prominent recent reporting (May 2026) on the first documented use of an artificial canopy bridge by a Western Hoolock Gibbon over a railway line in Hollongapar Sanctuary, highlighting conservation efforts and India’s only ape.