Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch)

Species information

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Threats

The silvery gibbon has undergone a dramatic population decline principally as a result of habitat destruction (7), and also from the trapping of juveniles for the pet trade (4). The native forests of Java have been cleared for logging, agriculture and development, and the species has declined to fewer than 1000 individuals over then last 25 years (2). This gibbon appears to be on the very brink of extinction with only a handful of isolated viable populations remaining (7).

Conservation

In light of the critical status of this species in the wild, a Javan gibbon rescue and rehabilitation workshop was conducted in 1997 hosted by Conservation International and the University of Indonesia (4). It was agreed that a rescue and rehabilitation centre was needed and education programmes were proposed (8). Currently, the only viable protected population is found within the Gunung Halimun National Park; if this attractive primate is to survive it is vital that protection both within the park and in other areas is increased (7).