The species is found in Assam, Mizoram, and Meghalaya in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar west of the Chindwin River.

The species is an important seed disperser; its diet includes mostly ripe fruits, with some flowers, leaves, and shoots.

[9] The western hoolock gibbon also feeds on non-plant items such as silkworms, ants, and various other insect species.

[10][11] Numerous threats exist for western hoolock gibbons in the wild, and they are now entirely dependent on human action for their survival.

A few organizations that help to fund the protection of their habitats are World Land Trust [15] and Gibbon Conservation Alliance.