Language: English
This report describes the conservation status of the western hoolock gibbon, Hoolock hoolock, in the Indian state of Assam. This is one of only two ape species in South Asia. Its distribution range extends between the rivesrs Brahmaputra in the west and Chindwin in the east, encompassing Bangladesh, India and Myanmar, and its population is estimated at fewer than 5,000 individuals, placing it amongst the 25 most endangered primates of the world.
With this in mind, rapid field surveys were conducted in 2015. It is pertinent to mention that the authors conducted extensive field surveys especially in eastern Assam during 2006 and 2009. Since many of the areas surveyed during that period could not be covered in the 2015 survey and fresh information from these areas are lacking, it was considered worthwhile to include data from 2006 and 2009 surveys, even if it is now a little obsolete. The current report summarizes the results of these surveys and presents an updated status review of the western hoolock gibbon in Assam.