THE HOOLOCK GIBBON HOOLOCK HOOLOCK IN SAIHA, MIZORAM, INDIA: HISTORICAL RECORDS, RECENT SIGHTINGS, AND CONSERVATION ISSUES

摘要

The Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock occurs in the westernmost extreme of the distribution range of the 16 gibbon species currently recognised (Geissmann 2007; Kakati et al. 2009). Its range between the Brahmaputra and Chindwin rivers encompasses threecountries - Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar (Groves 1967). It is the only ape represented in the Indian subcontinent (Geissmann et al. 2009). The species has been on the list of the World's 25 Most Endangered Primates since 2006 (Walker et al. 2007), withthe global population estimated to be about 5,000 animals, of which 2,600 to 4,450 are in India (Choudhury 2006; Molur et al. 2005) and about 200 in Bangladesh (Kakati et al. 2009; Molur et al. 2005). Zonunmawia and Pradhan (2004) state its Mizo name as hauhuk, and Lorrain (1951) mentions the Mara name as veitu; Mizo and Mara are the two languages used in Saiha.