White-Handed Gibbon: Facts & Habitat

Hylobates lar

WORLD CHAMPIONS IN ACROBATICS

The white-handed gibbon is a fascinating sight. When you first see it swinging through the air from branch to branch in the zoo, you can hardly believe your eyes. It is acrobatics of the absolute highest order!

In Southeast Asia, the species has adapted to a life high up in the forest canopy, where it moves effortlessly at a height of 20-40 meters. With its long, muscular arms – with a span of about 1.5 meters – the gibbon moves from branch to branch in an arm swing. The speed of movement is impressive in itself: it can reach speeds of up to 55 km/h through the forest canopy.

The long, narrow hands and fingers make the gibbon a true master grasper, while the thick skin on the hands ensures a firm and friction-free grip on the branches. This makes movement through the treetops both efficient and problem-free. Occasionally, it is also seen walking upright on its hind legs. Here, the arms act as a balance that ensures stability.

Gibbons are active during the day. Most of their waking hours are spent marking territory and searching for food. At night, they rest in separate trees, typically close to each other. A family usually consists of two adults – a male and a female – and their young. However, it also happens that larger groups are formed, and gibbons do not necessarily form permanent, lifelong pairs, as was previously assumed.

A female gibbon typically gives birth to one young after a gestation period of about seven months. For the first year, the young is completely dependent on the female and clings closely to her. After about a year, the young begins to move around on their own, but continues to stay near the female and suckle until it is about 20 months old. Gibbons become adults at the age of six and are fully sexually mature when they are about nine years old. Male young are chased away by their father as soon as they are sexually mature, as they then constitute a potential competitor for the territory.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE WHITE-HANDED GIBBON

Gestation: 7 months
Habitat: Southeast Asia, rainforest
Diet: Fruit, leaves, insects and eggs
Lifespan: 25-35 years
Weight: 4-8 kg
Height: 41-58 cm

PACKED WITH SINGING TALENT

Gibbons are real song stars. Early in the morning – and sometimes in the middle of the day – they fill the forest with song, both as soloists and in duets. The song has several purposes. Males use it, among other things, to mark and maintain territorial boundaries. When a male and a female sing together, on the other hand, it helps to strengthen their relationship with each other. This form of “love song” plays an important role in strengthening family bonds.

MALES AND FEMALES ARE SIMILAR TO EACH OTHER

When it comes to fur, there is no difference between the sexes. The color is not gender-specific, and both males and females can be either cream-colored or black. But what about the gibbon's skin? It is actually black – and it is in all cases.

STATUS IN NATURE

The white-handed gibbon is endangered.

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