Doomdooma, Nov. 9 -- A scientific study conducted in Karbi Anglong district of Assam has documented 34 plant species consumed by the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon, highlighting the importance of forest vegetation in sustaining the habitat and survival of India's only ape.

The study identified 34 food plant species in the Marat Longri-Patradisa-Longnit Forest Complex. The research was carried out by Parag Jyoti Kashyap and Sahana Bose of Assam University's Diphu Campus and published this year in the Asian Journal of Geographical Research.

The findings are based on field observations conducted between September 2023 and August 2024.

The recorded food plants include mango, Indian hog plum, wild nutmeg, Indian gooseberry, Indian plum, ...