Gibbon Conservation Society

Help Save the Singing Apes from Extinction!

Gibbons in Malaysia are on the brink of disappearing forever, and they urgently need your help.

At Gibbon Conservation Society, we’ve been fighting to protect and rehabilitate these remarkable creatures since 2013, but we can’t do it alone.
The illegal wildlife trade is still thriving, and more gibbons need rescuing every day.

We need your support now more than ever!

Why We Need You

Gibbons and other Southeast Asian wildlife face some of the highest rates of habitat destruction and biodiversity loss in the world. Intentional fires, logging, and the expansion of commercial palm oil plantations are wiping out their forest homes. Roads cut through protected areas, fragmenting habitats and giving poachers easier access.

Every day, we witness the heartbreaking reality of primates like gibbons being sold as pets on social media. To capture one baby gibbon, wildlife traffickers often kill its entire family. Gibbons, like us, will fight to the death to protect their loved ones. 

To make matters worse, many baby gibbons die from injuries sustained when they fall from the treetops during capture. For those who survive, life becomes a prison—confined to tiny, filthy cages and trafficked in wildlife markets or sold on social media as exotic pets.

While deforestation and other common threats contribute to the decline of gibbons, the illegal pet trade is the most significant factor driving their numbers down in the wild.

For every gibbon that reaches the safety of a rehabilitation center, up to 200 others have been lost.

What We Do

Our rehabilitation centers, Malaya GReP (Raub, Pahang) and Borneo GReP (Kota Belud, Sabah), are sanctuaries for gibbons rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, deforestation, bushmeat hunting, and other human-wildlife conflicts. Here, we help them relearn their natural instincts, preparing them for a return to their rightful home in the wild. But our mission doesn’t stop there. We actively combat the wildlife trade, run outreach and awareness campaigns, conduct scientific research, collaborate with local and indigenous communities, empower youth in conservation efforts, and advocate for policy changes to protect these endangered apes.

Why Rehabilitation Matters

It’s not enough to simply rescue a gibbon and release it back into the wild. Studies show that 90% of wildlife released without proper rehabilitation will not survive. Many people assume that an animal’s instincts will naturally kick in, but after years of captivity—often as pets—lose the skills they need to survive. These gibbons lose their ability to forage, find shelter, or recognize dangers in their environment.

The Semenggoh Case Study reveals just how important proper rehabilitation is. From 1976 to 1988, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre at Semenggoh Forest Reserve in Sarawak took in 122 gibbons that had been confiscated or surrendered by the public. Of these, 87 were released back into the wild.

The survival rate of these released gibbons was unknown until a pivotal 1988 survey at Semenggoh revealed a grim reality: approximately 90% of these released gibbons did not survive long after reintroduction.

This outcome underscores the critical importance of adhering to proper rehabilitation timelines and criteria.

That’s why at Gibbon Conservation Society, we ensure every gibbon undergoes species-specific rehabilitation, carefully teaching them the critical skills they need to survive and thrive once they are released back into their natural habitat. Our approach is grounded in the knowledge that a gibbon’s survival depends not just on rescue but on proper rehabilitation that prepares them for the many challenges of returning to the wild.

The Challenge

We require over USD 9,150 every month just to cover essential expenses.

Operating Gibbon Conservation Society and our rehabilitation projects is costly. Our essential expenses include:

• Daily care and specialized diets for rescued gibbons.

• Salaries for our dedicated staff, including our indigenous teammates.

• Facility maintenance, security, and equipment replacement.

• …and more!

How You Can Make a Difference

Our incredible supporters and donor keep Gibbon Conservation Society going strong. No matter the amount, every donation brings us close to saving these magnificent creatures and returning them to the wild. 

Here's how your contribution can help:

• USD 33  – Feeds an adult gibbon for one week.
• USD 35  – Provides replacement husbandry equipment (rakes, gloves, brushes, brooms, etc.).
• USD 186 – Feeds our guard dogs for one month.
• USD 300  – Feeds ten gibbons for one week.
• USD 1,163 – Covers the basic needs for one center for a month (excluding salaries).

With your help, we can rescue more gibbons from the illegal wildlife pet trade and bring them back to the forests where they belong. Your support means the world to them—and to us. Thank you for supporting us in this important mission to save the singing apes.