Freedom for Gibbons: Malaysia's Forgotten Apes

Imagine spending years trapped in a tiny cage, deprived of the freedom to stretch your limbs, to feel the sun on your skin, unable to roam free.

For Ebony, Coley, Rangga and Embun, this was their reality. Stolen from the wild, they endured years of isolation, neglect, physical and emotional abuse. 

Ebony, Axel's mom.

This is the heartbreaking reality for many gibbons in Malaysia. But today, you can help change that.

Rehabilitating gibbons is a complex process that takes between 5 and 15 years. For these families, the time has come to take the final steps towards freedom, and we need your help to make it happen!

We need $149,330 to cover the essential expenses for these two family’s whole release processes.

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Your Impact

When Coley arrived at our center, his future seemed bleak. Malnourished and abused as a pet, he couldn’t swing or climb like a wild gibbon.  Ebony’s story was just as heartbreaking—years of neglect left her confined to a tiny basket, scarred both mentally and physically.

Coley's progress timeline.

But then, something incredible happened. Slowly, with proper rehabilitation, both Ebony and Coley began to heal. Coley’s weak muscles grew stronger, and soon he was swinging across his enclosure. For the first time in his life, he could move freely. Ebony, though still carrying the emotional scars of her past, found comfort in Coley.  Against all odds, the two formed a bond, and that bond became a family.

Ebony's progress timeline.

In 2023, their baby Axel was born—the first gibbon ever born in a Malaysian rehabilitation center. Axel represents everything we work for: a new beginning, a future where gibbons no longer face the horrors of captivity and exploitation.

Baby Axel's progress timeline.Something similar happened to Rangga and Embun. When Rangga arrived at Malaya GReP, he was severely distressed. It took more than 3 years of proper rehabilitation to have him expressing gibbon behaviours such as brachating. Embun, on the other hand, began her process at just 3 months old. Her early exposure to a structured, species-appropriate environment allowed her to quickly build the skills that many former pet gibbons struggle to regain. 

Rangga, Mantra's dad.

The magic happened when they bonded, which soon turned into a family. 

Baby Mantra was born, carrying a story of resilience and hope, not just for this little family, but for the entire gibbon species in Malaysia.

Embun and little Mantra.

Axel and Mantra's birth mark a turning point for the entire gibbon species in Malaysia. 

But their story isn’t over yet. They still need your help to make their journey to freedom complete.

By supporting this release, you’re not just helping three gibbons—you’re playing a crucial role in the conservation of a critically endangered species and co-creating a sustainable future for indigenous communities.

Little Axel resting in Ebony's embrace.

Along with ensuring these families a successful return to the wild, we are dedicated to empowering Indigenous communities. Through training and job opportunities, we will equip them to become rangers and nature guides, offering sustainable incomes through eco-edu tourism programs that protect wildlife and promote environmental stewardship.

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What Will Your Donation Support?

This release will follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Best Practice Guidelines for Translocation and Release, a globally recognized standard to ensure the success and safety of wildlife returning to their natural habitats.

Here’s how your contributions will be used:

The assets listed will be used not only for these releases but also for future ones and ongoing conservation efforts. The vehicle, which is being purchased for the first time, will provitransportation for our rangers to and from the release site and other fieldwork operations that require reliable land transport.

Item	Monthly Cost (USD)	24-Month Cost (USD)	Remarks
Pre-Release Monitoring, Release Preparations & Post-Release Monitoring
Upkeep of Ebony, Coley and Axel in the jungle (up to 24 months).		853.20
Veterinary Check & Other Logistical Equipment	--	2,370	Hammocks, sleeping bags, food, first aid, etc.
Fuel	237	5,688
Release Site Survey		2,370
Primate Satellite Band x 2		3,800	For gibbon tracking.
Community Outreach Programs		2,370
Subtotal	237	1
Staffing
Capacity Building for Semangat Kerdor Semai		1,900	For learning release, monitoring, and data collection (since it's the first-time releto avoid mistakes).
Staff Salaries (USD 475 x 6 pax)	2,844	68,260	Local and Indigenous staff hired to monitor the gibbons in the jungle until the birth of the second child.
Supplies for Staff (USD 57 x 6 pax)	426	10,238	Food, medicine, other perishables.
Subtotal	3,270	80,390
Assets
GPS - Garmin GPSMap 66SR Tracking Handheld		1,976
Satellite Phonex2		2,983
Toyota Hilux 4x4 Double Cab		40,170	For transportation.
Antenna + Receiver for Implant Transmitter		2,983
Temporary Enclosure x2		4,740	Portable, can be dismantled.
Subtotal		51,383
Total		149,217

Your donation today will transform lives—both human and gibbon.