With respect to the Western Hoolock Gibbons, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. 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. 2. They have specialized brachiation and can easily swing between trees. 3. 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: Option B (1 and 2 only)

Statement 1 is correct: The Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is India's only ape species, naturally distributed across the tropical and subtropical forests of North-east India. The Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam is a renowned protected area dedicated specifically to their conservation. Furthermore, due to severe habitat fragmentation, poaching, and canopy loss, the species is officially classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Statement 2 is correct: Gibbons are uniquely adapted for a highly arboreal (tree-dwelling) lifestyle. Their primary mode of locomotion is brachiation—a specialized form of movement that involves swinging fluidly from branch to branch using their exceptionally long arms, ball-and-socket wrist joints, and hook-like hands. This adaptation makes them among the fastest and most agile non-flying mammals in the canopy.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Gibbons belong to the family of "lesser apes," meaning they are naturally small, slender, and lightweight (typically weighing only 6 to 9 kg, or 13 to 20 lbs). Their petite and lightweight frame is precisely what allows them to suspend and swing so nimbly through the trees. They do not possess a strong, heavy, or massive build like gorillas, which are "great apes" (weighing up to 150-200 kg) and are largely adapted for terrestrial knuckle-walking rather than rapid canopy brachiation.

Takeaway: Remember that the Western Hoolock Gibbon is India's only ape, native to the Northeast. They are slender, lightweight brachiators (swingers), which sharply distinguishes them from heavy-set great apes like gorillas.