Fauna
Mammal

Western Hoolock Gibbon

Hoolock hoolock

Also known as White-browed Gibbon

Western hoolock gibbons are monogamous canopy dwellers celebrated for their loud, coordinated morning duets that resonate across miles of dense forest. Using hook-like hands and extraordinary shoulder mobility, they swing beneath branches in fluid brachiation leaps spanning up to ten meters. Family units defend established home ranges focused around fruiting fig trees, heavily relying on contiguous old-growth forest for travel and foraging.

ArborealFrugivorousVocal
Western Hoolock Gibbon reference
Vijay Cavale / CC BY-SA 1.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFigs, Wild fruit, Tree canopy insects
Predators
  • Leopard
  • Clouded leopard
  • Burmese python
ThreatsSevere forest fragmentation, agricultural expansion, and hunting
HabitatsTropical evergreen and semi-evergreen broadleaf forests
Life span25–35 years
Classification
  1. FamilyHylobatidae
  2. SpeciesHoolock hoolock
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Possesses sharp canines and may bite if cornered; observe quietly from the ground.
Why it is dangerous
Large, knife-sharp canine teeth and strong jaws can inflict deep puncture wounds if animals are cornered or handled.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for a tail-less ape with prominent white brow bands; males are jet black while adult females are golden-buff.
What to do
Never attempt to approach fallen or captive gibbons; leave rescue operations entirely to trained wildlife rehabilitators.
What to notice
Recognizable by their complete lack of a tail, long slender arms, and booming territorial chorus at sunrise.
Support conservation
Maintain silent observation at a distance of at least thirty meters and avoid using playback calls to lure groups.
Responsible observation
  • Listen Early: Morning duets typically begin around dawn and offer the most reliable way to locate groups.
  • Keep Distance: Watch from the forest floor using binoculars to avoid altering their foraging routes.
  • Stay on Trails: Dense ground vegetation provides cover for venomous snakes and disturbs root systems.
Related species
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