Northern white-cheeked gibbon

Appearance

Northern white cheeked gibbons are small great apes.  Adult males are recognizable by their black fur, while the females are blonde. Both of them have white cheeks (hence their name). All white-cheeked gibbons are born with a light, blonde fur. After a year this turns black for both males ánd females. When females are sexually mature (at around 5 or 6 years old) their fur turns blonde. What’s remarkable about the white-cheeked gibbons are their extremely long arms. They use these to swing quickly from branch to branch. On top of that, the shoulder and wrist joints are extremely flexible.  They can turn their arms around 360 degrees without even letting go of a branch. It’s not without reason that these gibbons are real tree acrobats!

Habitat

In the wild, northern white-cheeked gibbons live in China, Laos and Vietnam. Here they inhabit the tropical rainforests. 

Lifestyle

Northern white-cheeked gibbons live in familiar groups. These groups contain about 2 to 6 individuals: a male, female and their children. Gibbons are one of the few primate species where the males and females are faithful to each other (monogamy). 

Behaviour

Northern white-cheeked gibbons can almost always be found in the trees, they barely touch the ground. They’re also very territorial primates. They make sure everyone knows their territory in quite a special manner: by singing! And it sounds good too! Their sound can be heard from up to 3 kilometres away. Northern white-cheeked gibbons don’t just sing to mark off their territories: also to seduce one another and strengthen the bond between one another. Gibbons move very fluently between trees and move effortlessly from branch to brand. They can even swing as far as 10 metres! This special fast way of moving is called brachiating . It can also happen that northern white-cheeked gibbons walk between trees. They do this by standing up straight, swinging their arms above their heads to maintain their balance. 

Reproduction

Northern white-cheeked gibbons are able to have offspring all year round. Females give birth around every 2 to 3 years. The mother brings the young with her, though fathers have a role in the upbringing too. After a year the offspring starts to sing together with their parents. Children drink from their mothers until they are around 2 years old. After that it still takes a while until they are fully developed: this occurs when they’re about 4 or 5 years old. When they’re 5 or 6, gibbons are able to have children themselves. When the young are fully developed and able to produce offspring on their own, these young are “evicted” from this group. This may appear pathetic, though it is completely natural behaviour. 

Situation in the wild

The forests northern white-cheeked gibbons inhabit are being cut down for agriculture and wood. They’re also being hunted for their meat. This results in the fact that all 19 gibbon species that exist are critically endangered. 

Apenheul Primate Conservation Trust

The Apenheul Primate Conservation trust is supporting a research project in Laos: project Anoulak. By conducting this research we are able to learn more about this species and are hereby able to protect these animals to our best ability.  

At Apenheul

All local residents at Apenheul have without a doubt heard these gibbons sing: they start every morning with these beautiful sounds. 

Population management programme 

Apenheul is part of the European endangered species programme (EEP) for northern white-cheeked gibbons. By working together with other zoos we ensure a genetically healthy and demographically stable population of this species is maintained in zoos.

Fun facts

• Northern white-cheeked gibbons are small great apes.
• There are 19 gibbon species in total and they all live in the tropical rainforests of Asia. 
• Gibbons can sing! Every gibbon species has their own kind of singing. This can be heard from up to 3 kilometres away in the rainforest. By doing this, gibbons make sure everyone knows where they are.