Gibbons are part of the ape family and are classified as ‘lesser apes’. This is because they are smaller than the ‘great apes’ which include chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos. The scientific name for the gibbon is ‘Hylobatidae’.
Gibbons belong to the Hylobatidae family.
Gibbons are natives to the forests of southern Asia
Gibbons are small animals, often reaching lengths of only 17 – 25 inches, and weighing between 9 -29 lbs. This can vary between species, but they are known as ‘lesser apes’ for a reason! Their appearance can also change per species, but something that they all have in common is that they are tailless.
Their coat of fur can range from black, brown or cream. Most species of gibbon have white markings on their face, feet and hands. They also have long arms, sometimes up to 1.5x longer than their legs, and hook-like hands which help them swing effortlessly through the trees.
Gibbons are omnivores, meaning that they eat a mixture of plants and animals. They most often feed on fruit but will also include leaves, bird eggs and insects within their diet. As they are arboreal, meaning they live in the trees, they will feed on what is most accessible to them.
With the 20 species of gibbon ranging between Endangered and Critically Endangered, it isn’t known exactly how many are left in total. However, the most Endangered species, the Hainon gibbon, have reduced to a population of only 30!
In the wild gibbons can live up to 25 years. Their lifespan can be even longer when in captivity.
Unfortunately gibbons are one of the most endangered species of ape. All but one species of gibbon are currently Endangered or Critically Endangered:
Examples include::
One of the primary reasons for the widespread endangerment of the gibbon species’ is due to habitat loss, often a result of forest destruction and fragmentation. Hunting and illegal trade are also a threat that impacts population levels.
There are 20 species of Gibbon, all of which are native to South and Southeast Asia. These are categorised into four genus:
Genus Hoolock:
Genus Hylobates:
Genus Symphalangus:
Genus Nomascus:
Although Gibbons are not easy prey, they do have a number of natural predators, including:
Forests and areas densely populated with trees are the natural habitat of the gibbon. Due to their physical features including long arms and specialised shoulder joints this make them perfectly designed for living within the trees. In fact, gibbons rarely descend to the forest floor!
The way in which gibbons move, also known as brachiating, helps gibbons to move throughout the jungle at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, and covering as much as 50 feet with a single leap.
You can adopt a gibbon here at Paradise Wildlife Park and help our conservation efforts with this wonderful species.
