Identifying Characteristics:
Slender body with long limbs; no tail. Adult males are entirely black. Some single white hairs may appear at the corners of the mouth. Adult females are pale yellow, yellow, orange, beige-brown, or off-white. Adult females often have black spots on the crown of the head and under the chest. Young black gibbons are pale yellow.
Biology and Ecology:
They forage in tall trees. Their diet consists of leaves, young shoots, fruits, insects, bird eggs, and nestlings. They begin to reproduce at 7-8 years of age. The gestation period is 7-8 months. They give birth once every two years, with one offspring per birth. Black gibbons typically live in old-growth forests on high mountain peaks. They usually inhabit the most pristine primary forests. They do not live in sparse forests or bamboo forests. Gibbons live in small family groups consisting of an older male, 1-2 females, and their offspring. A group has its own separate territory, distinct from other groups. Occasionally, small groups split off to form new groups. They are active during the day, with peak activity in the early morning and late afternoon. They rest on treetops at noon and at night. They often call with hoots in the early morning.
Distribution:
- In Vietnam: Northwest Vietnam, Bắc Kạn (Na Rì), Quảng Ninh, Thanh Hoá.
- Worldwide: Southern China, Northern Laos.
Value:
Used as specimens, for scientific research, and kept as exhibits in zoos.
Status:
Before 1975, this species was still very common in old-growth forests between the Hồng and Đà rivers, covering an estimated area of >2,000 km². Since 1975, the species’ situation has changed dramatically. The population has declined sharply. The number of sub-populations is currently around <5. Possible causes for these changes include habitat loss, deforestation, the shrinking of natural forest areas, and hunting for meat, medicinal use (e.g., in traditional medicine), trade, and export.
Classification:
EN A1c,d C2a
Conservation Measures:
Included in the Vietnam Red Book 2000 and the list of protected species of the forestry sector (Appendix IB of Decree 32/2006/ND-CP of March 30, 2006, of the Government). Effective enforcement of laws, regulations, and decrees of the government on wildlife protection is needed. The establishment of nature reserves and the implementation of management programs for wildlife in general, and endangered species in particular, are essential. Currently, this species is also protected in protected areas such as: Hoàng Liên Sơn National Park in Lào Cai province. Additionally, some forests in Yên Bái, Lào Cai, and Sơn La provinces are also under protection and are being developed into nature reserves to protect this precious gibbon species.