Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to an amazing group of apes called gibbons, which are threatened in the wild. Three of the 15 species are represented here - two Lar gibbons, two white-cheeked gibbons and three Siamangs, which are the largest species of gibbon. Gibbons are native to the tropical forests of Southeast Asia , and are very agile and acrobatic animals, leaping up to 50 feet and swinging up to 35 miles per hour. Many times, at the zoo and in the wild, these singing gibbons can be heard before they are seen. If you have visited the zoo, you've heard the gibbons sing their territorial calls, which can be heard up to two miles away.
Unfortunately, gibbons are facing serious threats in the wild. In the wild, gibbons are losing their homes to deforestation for logging and agricultural purposes. They are also threatened by the illegal pet trade; adults are hunted or captured and their offspring are brought into captivity.
There’s something simple you can do to help gibbons. Just look for the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) symbol on any wood product you purchase. If you see this symbol and purchase the product you are supporting well-managed forests and helping to save space for animals in the wild. You can also visit the zoo and vote for the gibbons with your “Quarters for Conservation” token. This project supports Wildlife Friends Thailand, which works to reintroduce gibbons to the wild.
DON'T MISS WOODSTOCK THIS SATURDAY!
Posts
