Background

Gibbons, of the hylobatidae family, primate order, are small anthropoid apes. There are 9 species of gibbons in the world, distributed mainly in Southeast Asia. A gibbon is 0.4 --- 0.65m tall, with long arms. Its armspan can reach 1.8m. A male has black or brown fur, and a female has golden or pale-brown fur. Four species of gibbons are found in Yunnan, Hainan and Guangxi of China. They dwell in tropical rain forest and subtropical monsoon forest, feeding on berries and plants. They live in small groups and produce songs. A gibbon can live as long as 30 years. The population of gibbons has decreased sharply to the verge of extinction in recent years because of the deterioration of thier dwelling enviroment. The State has listed them as wild animals under first-degree key protection.

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