Geissmann, T. 1995: Captive management and conservation of gibbons in China and Vietnam, with special reference to crested gibbons (Hylobates concolor group) Primate Report 42: 29-41.

Captive management and conservation of gibbons in China and Vietnam, with special reference to crested gibbons (Hylobates concolor group)

T. Geissmann
Anthropological Institute, University Zürich-Irchel, Switzerland

Abstract: This paper presents the first census of captive gibbons in selected zoos and other institutions of China and Vietnam. All institutions which were suspected to keep gibbons of the Hylobates concolor group were visited by the author in 1990 and/or 1993. In Chinese institutions, H. hoolock was relatively common, whereas in Vietnam, H. gabriellae was the species most frequently seen in captivity. Some of the other gibbon forms distributed in these countries were particularly rare in captivity (H. concolor, H. leucogenys siki) or not seen at all (H. sp. cf. nasutus, H. lar yunnanensis). Their numbers in captivity probably reflect the status of these taxa in the wild. The surveyed captive population is characterised by: 1. virtual absence of breeding, 2. high influx of young animals from the wild, and 3. probably low survival rate. Although it may be possible to build up self-sustaining captive gibbon populations in China and Vietnam - at least for H. hoolock and perhaps H. gabriellae - this goal cannot be reached in the near future without an improvement of captive management. Some suggestions for improvement are discussed.