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2015 is the "Year of the Gibbons"

They brachiate their way through the rain forest of Southeast Asia and every morning they sing their melodic duets: the Gibbons. The only question is as to how long they will be able to do so. The small apes with long arms suffer from illegal hunting and the destruction of their habitat. Researchers fear that most of the 19 species could become extinct within the next 20 years. The Section on Small Apes of the International Union for Conservation of Nature has therefore declared 2015 the “Year of the Gibbon“. The campaign is to bring about public awareness of the endangered apes and to promote the financing for new conservation projects.
A male Northern buffed-cheeked gibbon. The species was discovered of a team of researchers led by Christian Roos in 2010. Photo: Tilo Nadler
Das Logo zum "Jahr des Gibbons". Abbildung: IUCN, Section on Small Apes
The logo of the campaign "Year of the Gibbon". Image: IUCN, Section on Small Apes

"Gibbons are among the world's most endangered primate families", says Christian Roos a scientist at the German Primate Center. If we do not start to protect them on a massive scale, there is a possibility the many species will not exist within 20 years from now.” The biologist is the vice chairman of the Primate Specialist Group (PSG) that represents Southeast Asia in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is also a member of the Section on Small Apes (SSA).

"The main objective of the campaign is a heightened public awareness," Christian Roos continues. “Many people do not know just how bad the gibbon situation is. That must change.” Globally, many zoos are involved in publicity programs and organize events with posters, films and lectures to promote gibbons. Increased media and internet presence should raise public awareness of the issue. "A long-term goal of the initiative is also fundraising for new conservation projects," says Christian Roos. Most of the available funds are mainly used for the conservation of the great apes. Although it is also of importance to promote the conservation of the great apes, we should not forget the situation concerning the gibbons.

Just like chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans, gibbons often have to stand in the shadow of their better-known relatives. In comparison to their body size, the brain of the gibbons is bigger than that of other primate species. In addition, they have no tail. Due to their small body size, they are known as small apes. With 19 different species, the gibbons are the species-richest family among the apes. One of the species, the Northern buffed-cheeked gibbon, was discovered in Vietnam in 2010 by a research team under the leadership of Christian Roos. All of the gibbons species are found on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Currently 17 of the 19 species are classified as "endangered" or "critically endangered". The destruction of their habitat through deforestation, agriculture, illegal hunting and wildlife trade have brought the animals to the brink of extinction. The Hainan black-crested gibbon is considered to be one of the most endangered gibbon species with a current population of only 28 animals. It is the rarest ape species in the world. High time to do something for the protection of these endangered animals. Thus, the campaign "Year of the Gibbons" is not a minute too soon.

Further information on the „Year of the Gibbons“ is available under: www.gibbons.asia/year-of-the-gibbons/

You can read the entire interview with Christian Roos on the topic of "gibbons" and "Year of the Gibbons" in the next issue (3/2015) of our Magazine "DPZ aktuell"