14 November 2010
Newsdesk
The often overlooked gibbons include the most endangered primate on Earth - since the 1950s numbers of the Hainan gibbon have plummeted from more than 2000 to less than 25 individuals - but now with the help of a few celebrity chums the forgotten ape is fighting back to ensure its survival.
Bill Oddie and The Goodies are releasing a 2010 version of hit song The Funky Gibbon on 8 November. All proceeds will go to the Save the Gibbon campaign set up by the International Primate Protection League, a charity dedicated to the conservation of primates. The song will be available to download online at www.savethegibbon.org where you’ll also be able to view the new Funky Gibbon video and see the gibbons celeb chums chimp-rovising to the dance routine.
The song is available to download for 79p and the video available to view at www.savethegibbon.org
Gibbons aren’t a bragging breed by nature, so it’s up to the IPPL to boast about just why these treasured creatures should receive the funding they need to be protected:
Gibbons have a lower divorce rate than humans!
Among apes, monogamy is unique only to gibbons and humans. Like the majority of us lot, gibbons live in small family units with two parents and one to three offspring. And just like humans when gibbons mature they leave the family home to find a mate and start their own family.
Gibbons sound better than Susan Boyle
Well maybe not quite that good, but they certainly beat Jedward! Gibbons are musical creatures and their high pitched, howling calls can often be heard first thing in the morning. Males and females have distinct vocalisations and most gibbon mates perform long, sophisticated duets, which are thought to strengthen the bond between them, as well as marking out their territory to other gibbons.
The gibbon is the king of the swingers
Gibbons are tree-dwelling and they use a form of locomotion known as ‘brachiation,’ arm-over-arm swinging to get around. They use their elongated arms and fingers and flexible wrist and shoulder joints to leap across distances of up to 10m at a time!
