NUTRITIONAL STRESS IN WESTERN HOOLOCK GIBBON DUE TO ADVERSE CHANGES IN DIET PATTERN

Abstract

Habitat destruction and hunting are one of the major threats to endangered western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) in India. Due to large scale deforestation, important feeding and roosting tress are destroyed thereby creating shortage of food all-round the year. In non-availability of preferred food, these gibbons are bound to switch their diet and eat a diet of less nutritive value. This unwanted diet-switch may lead to severe nutritional stress leading to low population densities, reduced litter and a breach in their nutritional threshold may also cause sudden die-off. Acute food supply may cause deficiency of total energy and protein supply in primates which may ultimately lead to a variety of severe immune dysfunctions and an impaired resilience. It is being well known that degraded habitat leads to increase of parasite among primates, which leads to the decimation of the weak and the vulnerable. Weak immune system due to improper diet and nutrition may lead to parasite colonization, growth and fecundity.