AZA - Gibbons Fact Sheet

elate to differences in habitat and food availability. Otherwise, gibbon
show a similar preference for fleshy, sugary fruit and figs.
Social Organization: Gibbons are unique among apes, and even among
Old World monkeys, in keeping strictly defended stable territories which
they live within at all times. Gibbons also come close to the ideal of
"mating for life." Each gibbon pair regularly advertises its territory by loud
singing accompanied by spectacular gymnastics--a show of force. The
female's great call dominates the half-hour morning bout of singing, and it
is punctuated by the male's shorter phrases. These songs are consistent
throughout the range for each species, but subtle differences characterize
individuals. Territorial singing of the family broadcasts precise information
on the species and sex of individuals, the area occupied by the parents
and the presence of a sub-adult ready to form a new pair.
Conservation Status: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals curently
lists the Javan gibbon (H. moloch) and the Mentawai Islands gibbon (H.
klossii) as endangered; the white-cheeked gibbon, the hoolock gibbon (H.
hoolock) and the pileated gibbon (H. pileatus) are listed as vulnerable. The
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lists all nine gibbon species as endangered
and they are also under Appendix I protection of CITES. Most recently, the
IUCN/CBSG Primate Working Group recognized 23 (possibly 26) subspecies
among the nine species, placing the pileated, the Javan, the
Mentawai Islands and all five white-cheeked subspecies as critical.
Threats to Survival: Reduction of the tropical rainforest is the primary
threat to gibbons. Poaching for food or capturing young gibbons for the pet
trade is a secondary, but sometimes equally serious threat. The numbers
of all gibbons in Asia have decreased rapidly in the past fifteen years.
Zoo Programs - SSP: The Gibbons SSP is still under going planning and
organization. At the inaugural meeting in 1990 the propagation group
recommended the following plan based upon IUCN Priority Status and
IUCN/Primate Specialist Group and IUCN/CBSG recommendations. a.)
Because of their threatened or endangered status, the Javan, hoolock and
Mentawi Islands gibbon species should be placed in captive breeding
programs meeting necessary criteria, when sufficient numbers of
individuals of each become available. (Possibly in North America or other
regional programs.) b.) The agile (H. agilis) and the gray gibbon (H.
muelleri) have a low priority for conservation and are not to be placed in a
captive breeding program at this time. c.) Because the white-cheeked
gibbon is endangered and a reasonable number of individuals are already
held in North American facilities, expansion of its numbers through
breeding has been recommended. d.) The pileated gibbon should be
placed in a global breeding program, since it is endangered but only low
numbers are held in North America. e.) The siamang and white-handed