With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 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.
- They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees.
- They possess a strong and heavy build like gorillas, yet are remarkably agile tree climbers.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is found in the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam and other NE forests, and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, validating statement 1. Gibbons are the supreme brachiators of the primate world — their elongated forelimbs and ball-and-socket wrists let them swing through canopies at high speed, confirming statement 2. They are small, lightweight lesser apes (6–9 kg), nothing like the heavy-built gorillas of statement 3, which is therefore wrong. Answer: 1 and 2 only.