The Silvery Gibbon

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This is my first image of a Silvery Gibbon.  Rare within Zoos, only 33 worldwide are held outside Indonesia.     This particular Gibbon is one of two at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, though I believe the only Austalian breeding pair is at Perth Zoo, Western Australia.    While I have previously photographed White Cheeked and Siamang Gibbons, there is something just a little more beautiful about the Silvery Gibbon.

They are also known as the Javan Gibbons, but the Silvery name reflects their beautiful silvery-grey coat.  It’s quite a sight to behold in person.    Like the other Gibbons,  they live in family groups, but it is the female Silvery Gibbon that sings, the male only joining in occasionally.

It would be nice to be able to provide some hopeful statistics but these beautiful primates have only a 50% chance of being around in 10 years.   These aren’t empty threats that aren’t going to come true - these animals will not be here if humans do not try to save them, because it us that is killing them.  There are around 2000 Silvery Gibbons left altogether in the wild.  That’s it.

So why are the Silvery Gibbons under threat?  Similar reasons to Orangutans and other primates - habitat destruction by humans.  Their most direct threat is logging & palm oil production.    But the saddest fact that despite numbers being so low, another of their threats is the exotic pet trade. Human selfishness at its worst.

So enough with the bad news - what can you do?

There is a Silvery Gibbon Project being run out of Perth, Australia.    They support the Javan Gibbon Centre in Java -

“The aim of the centre is to rehabilitate ex-captive gibbons, returning them to full physical and psychological health and to encourage captive breeding based on sound conservation principles, established husbandry techniques and veterinary protocols, with a view to releasing suitable pairs and family groups into suitable protected habitat.”

They also have a little fundraising campaign going that we could all easily take part in - Go Without For Gibbons.

Spread the word - it is not just the well known primates like Orangutans and Gorillas that need our help.

Here’s a link on how to avoid palm oil as well - shopping guide.