Black crested Gibbon

Facts

IUCN CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR)

Facts about this animal

Hylobates concolor is an average-sized gibbon with a head-body length of 45-64 cm and a body-weight of about 5.6 kg. Both sexes have an crest of erect hair on the crown.

Males and females have about the same size, but there is a clear sexual dimorphism in body colour: males are black all over, sometimes with white, fawn or reddish cheek patches. Females are fawn or buff or golden with a black patch on top of the head. To complicate the situation further, there are different subspecies which are differently coloured, and infants look different from adults bein g whitis to fawn at birth and turning black at six months of age.

Black-Crested Gibbons differ from other gibbon species in that they do not necessarily live in strictly monogamous family group, but may be be polygynous, with an average group size of seven to eight animals. Family groups comprise one adult male, from one to four adult females, and numerous offspring of various ages. Both sexes of this species emit interactive songs.Males have a throat pouch resonating their calls. Daily calling, which begins on waking, maintains group bonds and warns other family groups away from the territory claimed by a pair or group.

Did you know?
that black gibbons practise "duetting" i.e. vocalizations which occur between the breeding male and female, and are dominated by the female? Duets are important because they help to maintain the pair bond between the breeding pair and also help to establish and maintain the territory.

Factsheet
Class	MAMMALIA
Order	PRIMATES
Suborder	SIMIAE
Family	HYLOBATIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Nomascus (Hylobates) concolor
Name (English)	Black crested Gibbon
Name (French)	Gibbon noir, Gibbon à favoris blancs
Name (German)	Schopfgibbon
Name (Spanish)	Gibón Crestado, Gibón negro
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Not listed

Photo Copyright by
Dave Watts

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Viet Nam
Habitat	Tropical Rainforest
Wild population	1,300-2,000 individuos(2006) (Red List IUCN 2011)
Zoo population	4 reported to ISIS (2006)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 33 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Dave Watts

Why do zoos keep this animal

The black crested gibbon is endangered in the wild. It is an extremely appealing primate, very agile and vocal, and would thus be a good ambassador species for primate and forest conservation in its indo-chinese range. Four regions implement coordinated ex situ breeding programmes.

How this animal should be kept

The enclosures for one pair with offspring have to be of the following extent:

Outdoor enclosure (Minimum area): 80 m²
Indoor enclosure (Minimum area): 30 m²
Enclosure hight (Minimum hight – closed at the top of the enclosure): 5 m

In- and outdoor enclosures are both necessary. All-year access to the outdoor enclosure (with two or more entries respectively exits) must be guaranteed at least during the day.

The temperature in the inner room mustn’t be less then 15° C. Additionally, there have to be some selective places warmed up with radiant heater.

The enclosure facilities have to contain provisions for climbing and swinging which enables the animals to swing and move hand over hand, seating accommodations in different hights, screens, niches or other possibilities to back out as well as barriers. The enclosure room must be appropriable for swinging and moving hand over hand through a corresponding large and high construction. In closed enclosures there have to be some facilities for climbing affixed to the ceiling.

Keeping has to be in pairs or small groups consisting of one adult male and up to four adult females with their offspring.

Several times, but at least three times every day a diet of miscellaneous fruits and vegetables, adequate animal proteins as well as food enrichment has to be offered.