A female yellow-cheeked crested gibbon from Gibbon Group 2 (G2) at Jahoo Camp just gave birth to a new infant, bringing the group size to six individuals, said USAID Morodok Baitang.

Funded by USAID Morodok Baitang through World Hope International-Cambodia, the source continued, the Jahoo research team has been monitoring and studying the behaviour of this gibbon family for four generations since 2013, making it the most habituated family group among all four family groups that the Jahoo research team is monitoring.

According to USAID Morodok Baitang, yellow-cheeked crested gibbons are globally endangered and live in family groups similar to humans, with lifelong mating pairs and multiple generations of offspring. The young gibbons learn essential behaviours and feeding strategies before dispersing at around eight years old. A female gibbon gives birth to a new baby only once every 2 to 3 years, making each birth a rare and extraordinary event.

In Mondulkiri, it added, Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary support
s the largest number of this globally endangered yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. Unfortunately, these magnificent gibbons have experienced rapid population declines, largely due to habitat loss and hunting for the pet trade.

To help protect this endangered species, USAID Morodok Baitang works with World Hope International-Cambodia to support the Jahoo Camp research team in monitoring and studying the behaviour of four yellow-cheeked gibbon family groups with the aim of habituating them to the presence of the Gibbon Guardians and protecting them from extinction in Keo Seima Widlife Sanctuary.

The research team has also successfully extended gibbon habitat management by an additional 445.5 hectares in the first semester of this year, expanding the Jahoo area to 691.3 hectares to date.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse