Endangered Gibbon Born in Angkor Forest, Boosting Wildlife Conservation Efforts

A bright-eyed pileated gibbon, an endangered species, has been born in Siem Reap province’s Angkor Forest, bringing the total population to 15 individuals. The pileated gibbons, along with nearly 100 other native animals that were previously released into the archaeological park, play an important role in dispersing tree seeds, helping restore a rich, green natural ecosystem. Their presence is also attracting more tourists to the rich, natural environment of the Angkor area. The baby was born in May and has been named “Rai” by staff from the APSARA National Authority (ANA) and its partner organisations. Nick Marx, a wildlife specialist with the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary (CWC) and ANA biodiversity adviser, expressed his joy at the arrival, according to a June 30 statement from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. The ANA, in cooperation with Wildlife Alliance, first released the gibbons into the park in 2013. Since then, the project has introduced four pairs at separate locations throughout the forest. They have now produced seven offspring, bringing the total number of pileated gibbons living in the park to 15. Marx shared his extensive knowledge of the Angkor gibbon population, noted that father of the latest arrival is named Baray and his mother is Saranich, who previously gave birth to two young. Moeun Sarin, who cares for and feeds the gibbons in the Angkor forest, explained that he and his son feed the animals twice a day, in the morning and afternoon. They also monitor their welfare, including their habitat, behaviour and any potential dangers they might face. The gibbons’ regular diet consists of a variety of fruits, including bananas, rose apples, papayas and other seasonal fruits. Marx urged the public not to feed or interact with wild animals, but instead to allow them to live naturally. He also discouraged people from keeping wild animals as pets, saying that doing so can endanger both humans and the animals while altering the animals’ natural behaviour. The ANA and CWC called on residents of the Angkor area to help protect wildlife. Although incidents of illegal hunting and snare trapping within the Angkor Archaeological Park have become relatively infrequent, they still occur. The ANA continues to work closely with CWC, the Forestry Administration and the Heritage Protection Police to monitor and safeguard wildlife on an ongoing basis. The wildlife release programme at Angkor Park has successfully reintroduced nearly 100 wild animals into the park’s natural forests since 2013. These include 17 pileated gibbons and 12 silvered langur.