UPSC Prelims 2026 Question:

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:

Explanation: 

• The Western Hoolock Gibbon is native to North-east India, and the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary  in Assam is a prominent protected area specifically dedicated to this species. The Western Hoolock  Gibbon is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. So, statement 1 is correct. 
• Gibbons are highly arboreal canopy-dwellers that move primarily through brachiation swinging  between trees using their arms. They have exceptionally long arms designed precisely for this specialised  locomotion. So, statement 2 is correct. 
• Gibbons are small, lightweight apes, the exact opposite of gorillas, which are large-bodied and heavy. Gibbons' agility is precisely because of their slender, light build, not despite a heavy one. Describing them  as having a "strong and heavy build like gorillas" is factually wrong. So, statement 3 is not correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer