The White-Handed Gibbon: A Guardian of the Canopy
The white-handed gibbon, native to the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, is known for its agility and hauntingly beautiful songs. These primates play a vital role in their ecosystem by spreading seeds and maintaining the health of the forest. However, habitat destruction and poaching have put them at risk.
In reserves, gibbons live in carefully protected forests that allow them to exhibit their natural behaviors. Swinging effortlessly between trees, these acrobatic animals require large, unbroken territories, which reserves provide. Their diet of fruits, leaves, and insects is sourced sustainably from their environment.
Reserves also focus on rehabilitating rescued gibbons, offering them a chance to return to the wild. Breeding programs aim to bolster their populations, while visitor programs highlight the need to protect rainforests not just for gibbons, but for countless other species that call these habitats home.