The lar gibbon is a small ape of Southeast Asian forests, famous for its acrobatic movement and haunting songs. It spends almost its entire life high in the canopy.
Interesting facts
- Gibbons swing arm over arm through the trees, a way of moving called brachiation.
- They can cover several metres in a single swing.
- Lar gibbons can be black, dark brown or pale buff, but always have white hands and feet.
- Gibbons are called ‘lesser apes’; they are apes, not monkeys, and have no tail.
- Pairs usually stay together for many years and defend a territory.
- Young gibbons are taken for the illegal pet trade, often by killing their mothers.
Behaviour
Lar gibbons live in small family groups of a pair and their offspring. They rarely come to the ground and travel through the canopy searching for fruiting trees.
Breeding and young
After about seven months, a single infant is born, usually every two to three years. Young stay with their parents until they are about eight to ten years old.
Threats and conservation
Deforestation, hunting and the illegal pet trade.
Where to see it
- Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
- Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand
- Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, Phuket, Thailand
- Rainforests of Peninsular Malaysia
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
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