Cambodia & Nature: A newly born yellow-cheeked crested gibbon at Jahoo Camp in Mondulkiri

A newly born yellow-cheeked crested gibbon has recently been observed at Jahoo Camp, Cambodia. The infant, belonging to a female yellow-cheeked crested gibbon from Gibbon Group 2, marks an increase in the group size from five to six individuals.

A newly born yellow-cheeked crested gibbon at Jahoo Camp in Mondulkiri

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

As stated by USAID Morodok Baitang, the yellow-cheeked crested gibbon is a globally endangered species that inhabits family groups comparable to those of humans, characterised by lifelong mating pairs and multiple generations of offspring.

The juvenile gibbons acquire the fundamental behaviours and feeding strategies prior to dispersing at approximately eight years of age. The interval between births in this species is relatively long, with females giving birth to a new baby only once every 2 to 3 years. Consequently, each birth is a rare event.

In Mondulkiri, the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary plays a pivotal role in supporting the largest population of this globally endangered yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. It is regrettable that these gibbons have experienced a precipitous decline in population, largely attributable to the loss of habitat and the hunting of individuals for the pet trade.

In order to assist in the protection of this endangered species, USAID Morodok Baitang collaborates with World Hope International-Cambodia to facilitate the monitoring and study of the behaviour of four yellow-cheeked gibbon family groups. This is with the objective of habituating them to the presence of the Gibbon Guardians and protecting them from extinction in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary.

Furthermore, the research team has successfully extended gibbon habitat management by a further 445.5 hectares in the initial six-month period of this year, thereby expanding the Jahoo area to a total of 691.3 hectares to date.