Two Endangered Javanese Silver Gibbons Take First Steps into the Wild

Ukong and Gomeh are among the six Javanese silver gibbons that are reintroduced in the wild this year under a conservation program sponsored by the state oil company Pertamina, the Yayasan Owa Jawa (Javanese Silver Gibbon Foundation), and the Javan Gibbon Centre.

The reintroduction and monitoring initiative, which also set out to raise public awareness of the primates, have reintroduced 24 Javanese silver gibbons to the wild since 2013.

The IUCN classified the Javanese silver gibbon as a vulnerable species. With a remaining population of between 2,000-4,000, the primate is one of the rarest of its kind in the world.

Aside from being hunted and sold as illegal pets, efforts to conserve the Javanese silver gibbons are undermined by their territoriality and low birthrates due to their monogamous nature. 

(Writer: Bogor Regency Contributor Afdhalul Ikhsan | Editor: Aprillia Ika)

Sources: 

https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/08/01/19415471/menuju-kepunahan-sepasang-owa-jawa-masuk-habituasi-di-lereng-gunung-puntang?page=all#page2.