Creating a More Compassionate World
Creating a More Compassionate World
![Chet [0672].JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/96c9ae_dcf6c04764164bb8ab45dd9b73d166f6~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_245,h_138,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/96c9ae_dcf6c04764164bb8ab45dd9b73d166f6~mv2.jpg)
Hylobates
Nomascus
Hoolock
Symphalangus
All About Gibbons
In the past, many species of gibbons were lumped into a single genus called Hylobates. But today, scientists recognize four different genera of gibbons (pictured above) based on differences in their chromosome numbers. These 4 genera are further divided into 20 different species recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Gibbons are important seed dispersers in the jungle and play a major role in keeping the planet's precious rainforests healthy for us all.
But gibbons are seriously threatened in the wild and face the very real threat of extinction.
If humans don't change our ways fast by stopping deforestation, mitigating climate change, and ending pet trade and poaching, these magnificent small apes will not survive.
Why Are Gibbons Endangered?
Gibbons are endangered because the forests they call home are being destroyed for logging and agriculture gains at an alarming rate.
The main culprits of deforestation are the industries of timber, paper & pulp, and especially PALM OIL. The top two producers of palm oil in the world are Malaysia and Indonesia, these countries are ravaging their lands to set up palm oil plantations - decimating their forests, and killing off the biodiversity that call these jungles home.
THEY'RE LOSING THEIR HOMES
Click Here to Learn More
Gibbons face serious threats from humans who use them for commercial exploitation.
Illegal wildlife trade intensively harvests Asian apes from the wild for pets and tourism attractions. Poachers hunt to capture infant gibbons because babies are easier to control in captive/tourist settings. In the process gibbon mothers, fathers, grandparents, and adult siblings are often killed as they try to protect their babies from poachers and danger.
THEY'RE TAKEN FROM THE WILD
Click Here to Learn More
What We Know About Gibbons
Learning all we can about what life is like for gibbons in the jungle through non-invasive observational behavioural research is a vital component of developing effective conservation projects and practices that work for gibbons and the local communities of people who live near them to ensure small apes both survive and thrive in their jungle homes.
Hover over the photos in the grid below to learn about
the day-to-day activities, diet, communication, and living habits of wild gibbons.
Location & Habitat
Where in the world do gibbons live?
Gibbons live in primary forests throughout South East Asia from Southern China to Indonesia. Typically they live in tropical dry deciduous and moist evergreen forests, but they can also live in lowland and montane forests.
Along the southern border of China, some gibbons even live in tropical broad- leaf evergreen forests where there is brief seasonal snowfall.
But remember! Even though the map appears to show large continuous zones, in reality forest cov