Gibon de Manos Blancas

The white-handed gibbon reaches sexual maturity at 6 to 8 years of age. Breeding can occur at any time of the year. The gestation period is approximately 200 days. Females usually have a single calf every two to four years.

The white-handed gibbon, Hylobates lar, is a social and territorial primate. It lives in monogamous family groups and defends its territory with high-pitched cries. Group members show great affection for each other, often hugging and have a friendly facial expression. This social and territorial behaviour makes it a unique inhabitant of the forests where it lives.

The white-handed gibbon, Hylobates lar, faces several threats that have led to a decline in its population. The main threat is habitat loss due to deforestation and conversion of forests to agricultural land. In addition, hunting for the pet trade and traditional medicine has also contributed to its decline. The historical distribution of this species has been greatly reduced and fragmented, having disappeared from some areas such as China. It is now listed as endangered. It is crucial that conservation measures are taken to protect this species and its habitat.

The white-handed gibbon, Hylobates lar, has an omnivorous diet. A large percentage of its diet consists of fruit, especially figs (Ficus), but it also eats grapefruit, mangoes, leaves, flowers and buds. In addition to its plant-based diet, this gibbon also feeds on insects and small birds, which it catches with great agility while swinging in the trees. It also feeds on the eggs of these birds. After the morning cries, the group is on the move in search of food and in the afternoon there is a second meal, before the evening cry session.