Pileated Gibbon

Habitat

Tropical rain-forest and monsoon forest.

Wild Diet

Mainly ripe fruit, young leaves and a small number of invertebrates.

Behaviour

Gibbons move through the trees as if ‘flying’. They are considered the fastest of all the primates. The distinctive call of the pileated gibbon begins slowly and ends as a trill; it is used to define their territory. Males and females are different colours. The male is mainly black with white fur on hands and feet whilst the female is blonde with a black chest, cheeks and cap.

Breeding

A single youngster is born after a gestation of 210 – 240 days (7 – 8 months).

Threats

Habitat destruction and hunting for food and the pet trade.

Conservation

Much of the remaining population is found in protected areas throughout their range. They are listed as Appendix I on the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species, making trade in the species illegal. Paignton Zoo is part of the European Endangered Species breeding programme (EEP).