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| | Eastern hoolock
gibbon female
(Hoolock leuconedys) |
Rekha Chetry Ph.D and Dilip Chetry,Ph.D
The endangered western hoolock gibbon's (Hoolock hoolock)
world population is now less than previously estimated. This lesser ape and close relative to man, known for its beautiful songs, was thought
to be the only gibbon in Assam, India. Assam was thought to be one of the few places where
it still had a viable population.
We surveyed six forest reserves in
Sadiya, a part of Tinsukia district on the extreme east boundary of
Assam. Instead of the western hoolock, we determined that the gibbon population is the vulnerable eastern gibbon (Hoolock
leuconedys). A total of 33 individuals in 10
groups were recorded from direct sighting. We estimate the occurrence of
another 16 groups from calls counted. The average group size was 3 with
individuals ranging from 1 to 5. Sadly our survey found no gibbons
present in 3 ...