18.9.12

Wildlife Asia Appeal for The Silvery Gibbon Project

Sad news from the field………..(16.8.12,SGP Facebook Page)

Wildlife conservation, in any country, is an inevitable roller coaster of small victories matched with devastating setbacks. Javan gibbon conservation at the moment is challenging, to say the least, and I hope that recent tragic events will soon be followed by some positive progress.

The sadness of losing one of our most high profile gibbons under such appalling circumstances brings me deep sadness but also strengthened resolve.

Jeffrey was the first gibbon I ever met at the Javan Gibbon Centre. He was the first of two gibbons taken in to the centre in 2003 and on my very first visit he caught my attention instantly, with his ballerina jumping, a stereotypic behaviour developed from years spent in a tiny cage. Jeffrey clearly had a story to tell, his life until then, was not as a gibbons should be.

Over the last 9 years though Jeffrey’s rehabilitation surpassed our expectations and he seemed to have found his soul mate in Nancy. They were one of the few pairs who were instantly compatible.

Just over a month ago, Jeffrey and Nancy were released into Pattiwel forest, as a second trial reintroduction after the apparent success of the first pair, Echi and Septa. Jeffrey and Nancy were doing well, enjoying their freedom in the forest and learning the skills required for survival in the wild.

But those skills, sadly, would never protect them from the most predatory, destructive species on the planet. On the evening of June 8, hunters entered Pattiwel forest, presumably looking for wild pigs and other wildlife. For reasons only known to them, Jeffrey became an appealing target.
A JGC staff member, hearing multiple gun shots hurriedly made his way into the forest, badly injuring his leg as he tried to chase off the hunters.

Nancy was later found, alone and frightened in the forest and has now been returned to JGC. Observing her today was heartbreaking and it was obvious that with monogamy, comes undeniable grief when a partner is lost. I am not sure Nancy will recover.

The same can be said for Dina, the partner of Charlie, who also this month was killed when a tree fell onto their enclosure. Charlie and Dina were another perfect pair at JGC and ready for release.

In this same month, a gibbon has succumbed to illness and a leopard has broken into an older enclosure killing a gibbon, ironically in the same week that all the gibbons were being relocated to their newer more sturdy enclosures.

These tragic events have dealt an enormous blow to staff, who have worked tirelessly for many years ensuring the wellbeing of the gibbons at JGC and carefully planning their release back into the wild.

The Javan Gibbon Foundation is now working to develop more effective protection strategies before further releases occur. These will focus on establishing community buy in, appealing to values and needs of local villages and creating valid reasons for the protection of their wildlife. They will also be working closely with National Parks to improve patrolling and protection in these areas.

In other disappointing news, the Indonesian government has recently revealed plans to reduce Gunung Halimun Salak National Park by half to allow for an increase in gold mining. This is one of the last strongholds for Javan gibbons. Not only would this significant loss of habitat (77,000ha) be devastating to the wild gibbon population but the impact of gold mining will extend far beyond its boundaries, affecting wildlife, forests and local communities. What happens when the gold is gone? Where to next? It seems completely preposterous that even the designated National Parks are no longer safe from development.

This proposal represents the complete submission by those in power to development over conservation. It sets a frightening precedent and casts doubt over the impact of any small efforts we can make.

But I do believe that in times of turmoil we must fight harder for the gibbons. In Jeffrey’s memory we can fight for the protected freedom of all the gibbons in our care. We must work harder to protect what little remains of their wild habitat. We must work harder to establish suitable and safe reintroduction areas. We must educate, cooperate, stand up and give it everything we’ve got.

The call of the Javan gibbon is fading. Please help us if you can.

Your donation will help us to improve care for the gibbons at JGC, establish adequate protection in proposed release sites and campaign the Indonesian government to protect the gibbon’s natural areas.

Clare Campbell
President
The Silvery Gibbon Project

How you can help at:
http://www.wildlifeasia.org.au/help-us/appeal-for-the-silvery-gibbon-project-2012/

The call of the gibbon:
http://www.wildlifeasia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/JavanGibbon.mp3

27.6.12

The Silvery Gibbon Project raises funds for the conservation of the Critically Endangered Silvery Gibbon (Hylobates moloch), a primate found only in the jungles of Indonesia.

Key Areas of Expenditure

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 400 and 4,000 animals, many of these confined to small fragmented areas of ever diminishing forest.

The SIlvery Gibbon Project is run entirely by volunteers. As well as being the primary supporter of the Javan Gibbon Centre, SGP also support education and capacity building programs in Java.

The reintroduction program established in 2009 will require ongoing funding through SGP and we also plan to assist in the development of wild population and habitat proptection programs in the near future.

Are donations tax deductible? Yes