Save Endangered Gibbons

There are 16 species of gibbon. Most are listed by the IUCN as either “Endangered” or “Critically Endangered”. Gibbons not only include the most endangered apes, but the most endangered primate species in the world.

Gibbons are small, arboreal apes distributed in the wild in the tropical and subtropical rainforests of Southeast, South, and East Asia. They are currently found in small populations in China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Bangladesh, NE India, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Habitat loss in the form of logging and other types of forest destruction is one of the main causes. In China, gibbons have already lost 99% of their habitat. Hainan gibbon, found only on Hainan Island off the coast of China, is considered to be the most endangered known primate. There are approximately 20 individuals left on the island!  Also nearly extinct is the Eastern black gibbon, of NE Vietnam, east of the Red River and southern China. There are approximately 110 of this gibbon species left, making these two gibbon species the rarest primates on earth.

They are also hunted for food, and poached by humans who sell their body parts for use in folk medicines. Additionally, the illegal pet trade is thriving across the whole of Southeast Asia and young gibbions are popular pets. In obtaining a young animal, its mother is shot down from tree tops. and often both the mother and infant are killed in this process.

Lack of awareness and lack of information about the threats facing gibbons are additional reasons there is inadequet gibbon protection. The threats faced by gibbons is both a local problem, and an international one, because these threats are largely unknown.

We ask the Chinese government to have more education about gibbons before they become extinct.

The Premier of China, Wen Jiabao
E-Mail: http://english.gov.cn/2008-03/16/content_921792.htm