Mammals
Western Hoolock Gibbon
Hoolock hoolock · also called hoolock gibbon
At dawn in the rainforests of northeastern India, a black male hoolock gibbon and his golden-brown mate call back and forth in a duet that carries across the valley.
Overview
The western hoolock gibbon, Hoolock hoolock, is an Endangered ape of northeastern India, Bangladesh, and western Myanmar. Its black-and-gold pairs, canopy-swinging travel, and duet songs make it one of the most striking and vulnerable small apes in Asia.
The ape of the northeast
As the only ape in India, the hoolock gibbon is a flagship for the forests of the region, which are being cleared and fragmented.
Status
Endangered, with a decreasing population.
Western Hoolock Gibbon: common questions
Why is the western hoolock gibbon special in India?
It is the only ape found in India, where it lives in the forests of the northeast.
How can you tell male and female hoolock gibbons apart?
Males are black with white eyebrows, while females are buff to golden brown.
Why do hoolock gibbons sing?
Pairs sing loud duets, which mark their territory and help keep the pair bond strong.
Where is the western hoolock gibbon found?
It lives in rainforest in northeastern India, Bangladesh, and western Myanmar.