Bornean white-bearded gibbon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bornean white-bearded gibbon |
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_Tanjung_Puting_National_Park_-_Indonesia_2.jpg) |
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| A Bornean white-bearded gibbon in Tanjung Puting National Park | |
| Conservation status | |
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Hylobates
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| Species: |
albibarbis
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| Where the Bornean white-bearded gibbon lives (green area) | |
The Bornean white-bearded gibbon (Hylobates albibarbis) is a type of gibbon. It is also called the Bornean agile gibbon or southern gibbon. These amazing apes live only in the southern part of Borneo.
Sadly, this gibbon is an endangered species. This means there are not many left in the wild. A big reason for this is the cutting down of their forest homes. This happens between the Kapuas River and Barito River. Other animals that live in trees are also in danger.
Bornean white-bearded gibbons act a lot like other gibbons. They mostly eat fruit. This gibbon was once thought to be a type of agile gibbon. But new DNA research shows it is its own unique species.
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What Do They Look Like?
The Bornean white-bearded gibbon usually has grey or dark brown fur. They have a black face and a white beard. Like all gibbons, they are smaller apes and do not have tails.
They live in small family groups. A group usually has a male, a female, and their young. They form strong pairs and do not build nests.
How Do They Move?
Gibbons are famous for how they move through trees. This is called brachiation. They swing from branch to branch using their long arms. They can swing up to 15 meters (about 49 feet) in one leap! They can also move as fast as 55 kilometers (34 miles) per hour.
Unlike many other primates, all gibbons can walk on two legs. They hold their long arms over their heads when they walk.
Life and Size
A white-bearded gibbon usually lives for about 25 years. They grow to be about 17 to 25 inches (43 to 64 cm) tall.
Male gibbons weigh around 6.1 to 6.9 kg (13.5 to 15.2 pounds). Females are a bit lighter, weighing 5.5 to 6.4 kg (12 to 14 pounds). Female gibbons are ready to have babies when they are about 4 years old.
What Do They Eat?
Bornean white-bearded gibbons love to eat fruit. Their diet in the tropical forest is mostly fruit, especially figs. About 65% of their diet is fruit, and 23% is figs. Sometimes, they also eat leaves and insects.
Why Are They in Danger?
The biggest problem for gibbons in Borneo is the loss of their home. Logging (cutting down trees) and mining destroy the dense forests. Gibbons need these tall, thick forests to stay safe and to travel. This is a huge threat to their survival.
Other dangers for the white-bearded gibbon include forest fires. These fires can happen because of dry weather from El Niño events. Climate change also plays a part in these problems.
