About the Project

The haunting and beautiful call of the female Silvery Gibbon still awakens a few small patches of the misty rainforests of West and Central Java. Unlike most gibbon species, her mate contributes little to the song but watches for intruders during the female's early morning recital.

Sadly, the call of the Silvery Gibbon could be silenced forever.

The Silvery Gibbon Project is a registered environmental organisation based in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1991, the project raises funds for the conservation of the Critically Endangered Silvery Gibbon (Hylobates moloch), a primate found only in the jungles of Indonesia.

Unfortunately, like so many species today the wild populations of the silvery gibbon are under threat due to habitat destruction and fragmentation from illegal logging, burning of forests for palm oil plantations, and encroachment from local human populations. In addition, many gibbons are still lost each year to the illegal pet trade, when adult gibbons are slaughtered so that their babies can be sold in the markets as pets. The situation for these animals is dire. Based on current estimates, the wild populations are thought to number between 2,500 and 4,000 animals, many of these confined to small fragmented areas of ever diminishing forest.

Education, preservation of habitat and rehabilitation of ex-pet Silvery Gibbons are all important steps to avoid the imminent extinction of these magnificent creatures.

Funds raised by the Silvery Gibbon Project are primarily directed to the Javan Gibbon Centre in Indonesia for the care and rehabilitation of rescued Silvery Gibbons. Plans are also in place for a release program and the Silvery Gibbon Project also hopes to direct further funds into habitat protection and education programs in the near future.