White-cheeked gibbons
Habitat and Distribution: Found in tree tops of tropical and monsoon forests in Laos, Vietnam, Hainan, southeastern China, and eastern Cambodia.Size: 18-25 inches tall; 12-20 pounds
Wild Diet: Fruits, leaves, buds, flowers, occasionally insects, eggs and small young birds
Predators: Humans, eagles, owls, and leopards
Lifespan: 25-30 years in the wild; 25-35 years in zoos
Reproduction: Maturity is reached at 5-8 years old. The gestation period is 7-8 months. White-cheeked gibbons give birth to one baby every 2-3 years. Infants cling to their mother from birth. Youngsters are weaned early in their second year. Once the offspring reach full maturity they usually leave the family group and search for a territory and mate of their own. However, they may spend up to 10 years with their family group.
Behavior: Like all gibbons, white-cheeked gibbons live in small families. Gibbons are one of the few apes where the adult female is the dominant animal in the group. Mated pairs of gibbons are very territorial. They mark their territory through loud vocal displays that travel hundreds of yards throughout the forest. Vocal displays also strengthen the bond between a pair. The male hoots, squeals, and whistles, while the female makes a rising twitter note. Gibbons are active during the day. Grooming is also an important social activity.
Conservation
Status: Endangered
Gibbons have a home range of about 75-100 acres and travel about one mile per day through this range. The forest they need is being fragmented (broken into smaller areas) and/or destroyed for human use.
Gibbons have a home range of about 75-100 acres and travel about one mile per day through this range. The forest they need is being fragmented (broken into smaller areas) and/or destroyed for human use.
Interesting Facts
They can swing from one branch to another that is up to nine feet away! Both males and females turn all black when they are about one year old. Then, as they become young adults, females turn back to the cream color, while males stay black.