Western black crested gibbon

The western black crested gibbon is another of the most threatened primates in the world. It is listed as Critically Endangered, with around 1,500 remaining in the world, in north-western Vietnam, Yunnan Province in China and north-western Laos.

Western black crested gibbon facts:

• They can live at altitudes of over 2,000 metres on mountains chains extending down from the Himalayas
• Males and females are strikingly different in appearance with males almost completely black and females golden
• Females will often lead their mates in vigorous bouts of singing in the morning, which hauntingly echo through the forest

The biggest threat to the western black crested gibbon and black crested gibbons in general throughout their range is destructive local forest use and hunting.

Fauna & Flora International (FFI) is working on the western black crested gibbon in Vietnam, China and Laos.

In Vietnam, field conservation measures for the gibbon have been ongoing for nearly a decade in the Hoang Lien Mountains, where the only populations in Vietnam persist.

In China, the stronghold of the species, FFI is coordinating efforts between the nature reserves where the gibbon survives, including supporting surveys and training nature reserve staff on monitoring gibbons.

In Laos, FFI is planning to support local partners at one protected area in the north west of the country, which maintains the known only viable population in the country.