GIBBON ENCOUNTER 2017

The essential focus of this project is to rescue gibbons that have been badly treated, abused or injured, especially from people who make money off them by using them as tourist attractions and 'photo opportunities', charging for taking photos with them. These apes are found in jungles when they are newborns and in order to be able to make the baby come down from the trees to take them, their parents are shot. The sanctuary aims to rescue these gibbons and provide them with a safe home as they are unable to return to the forest after such a long time. As a participant in this project, you should provide the gibbons with the love and care that they require. Also known as 'the smaller apes', gibbons are one of the most endangered of ape species due to loss of their habitat as well as poaching and illegal trade for tourism purposes. Moreover, gibbons are one of the few species that remain monogamous. If their partner dies, they are unlikely to mate with another gibbon, giving little to no chance of new babies. The main activities will be to feed the gibbons, clean their enclosures and perhaps most importantly, to give them love and attention and to 'socialise' with these beautiful and charming creatures to get them used to interacting with human beings as they can no longer be released into the wild. The sanctuary is aimed at gibbons. However, it does not reject any animal in need! Over the passage of time, other furry friends in need have made it here, including over 20 macaque monkeys, a bear, two jackals and a even a bearcat. Surrounding by lush nature in order to create an environment that resembles that of their natural habitat, the gibbons live in huge cages which are interconnected by wired tunnels in order to keep them safe while at the same time giving them as much space as possible to do what they do best: swing! These creatures are considered some of the world's best acrobats and they are able to jump from tree to tree as far as 15 meters apart! Preparing Food This is done twice a day in the morning and the afternoon. You will assist in preparing and distributing food for the gibbons and in the feeding of the food to the gibbons. Clean and Tidy Enclosures It's a dirty jobÂ…. but someone's got to do it! This basic hygiene procedure is carried out daily. Keep in mind that you will not be allowed inside the cage with gibbons for safety reasons and the tidying is only done underneath the cages. Socialising the Gibbons This may sound like a straightforward job, but the value of it cannot be underestimated. Many of these gibbons have developed a fear of humans due to bad and negligent treatment. Making them comfortable around humans, through activities such as 'fluffing' them, imitating their calling 'OoooooOOO' and holding their hands. The gibbon project seeks to provide a safe and comfortable environment for gibbons that need this. The quality of life is of paramount importance to this project. The gibbons will remain in the sanctuary for the duration of their lives, as they would be at extreme risk if returned to the wild. A secondary aim is to make the gibbons comfortable with human interaction and to establish mutual trust between the two species. You should leave this project knowing that you have helped, cared for and given love to these deserving and fascinating creatures.