SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTERThe Page 1 March 2013 SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT PO BOX 335 COMO 6952 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Website: www.silvery.org.au E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 0438992325 March 2013 PRESIDENT’S REPORT I was able to visit JGC in January with some guests, including a local sponsor. It was very promising to see financial support arising for the Dear Members and Friends project from within Indonesia. Well we have kicked off the year with a very successful fundraising campaign that many of you participated in. We came up with the Go Without for Gibbons concept quite a few years back but social media has finally given us the opportunity to promote the idea effectively and actually turn it into some much needed funds for us. Thank you so much to all of you who went without your luxuries for February and made donations to Silvery Gibbon Project (SGP) instead. The campaign culminated with a Comedy Night on March 1 which was lots of fun with plenty of „indulging‟ was had by all . (See page 6). Clare travelling to JGC with Dr Ben Rawson (FFI) We are excited to report this month on the I am heading off again in March to lead the establishment of a new release program for Javan Wildlife Asia Big 5 Tour. This will be a once in a gibbons (Silvery gibbons) and we are looking to lifetime opportunity for participants to visit secure considerable funding to support this conservation projects for Orangutans, Sunbears, project. (See Page 2). Despite the tragic events Sumatran Rhino, Elephants and of course Javan surrounding the hunting of Jeffrey in 2012, we still gibbon. believe that the best outcome for the conservation of Javan gibbons and the welfare of individuals We are very housed at Javan Gibbon Centre (JGC) is for a well excited that managed and effective reintroduction program. we have been able to fill the tour and hopefully we will be able to offer similar opportunities in the future. Stay tuned!! Until next time, take care Clare Campbell Clare visiting JGC with Dr Ben Rawson (FFI) President, Silvery Gibbon Project SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTER Page 2 March 2013 THE ROAD TO RELEASE The Javan Gibbon Centre (JGC) was established in 2002 as a rescue and rehabilitation centre for the Endangered Silvery or Javan Gibbon (Hylobates moloch) in response to an identified need for such a facility as part of the global conservation of this species. The primary objective of the centre has always been to rehabilitate and release gibbons into suitable areas of protected forest. The first trial release occurred in October 2009, with the pair monitored intensively for two years. They continue to thrive in forest nearby to JGC. A second trial release occurred in May 2012 which sadly ended in the incidental „hunting‟ of one of the gibbons, Jeffrey. Prior to this, the pair appeared to adapt well to their wild environment. Despite this tragedy, the goal remains from both a welfare and conservation perspective to pursue a reintroduction program that will ideally re-establish a new population of Javan gibbons in West Java. After numerous surveys of potential sites throughout West Java, the Javan Gibbon Foundation (JGF) has recently negotiated the use of the Malabar forest. The Malabar mountain, located in Bandung regency, West Java comprises of almost 9000 hectares of land at an altitude of 1,000 to 2,300 above sea level. The area is covered by tree plantations (26.9%) and forest (73.1%), and is under the management of Perhutani (Forestry State Enterprise). The Malabar mountain is an area that is critical for watershed protection as well as the conservation of flora and fauna in Java. The area is the core site of a large and significant water catchment area, upstream of the Citarum river, the largest river in West Java. This watershed provides water for about 10 million people along the basin, with at least 25 million people depending on this water source for water and electricity. In addition, the water shed provides irrigation for 240,000 hectare and supplies 80% of the raw water for Jakarta residents. Figure 1: Map of Malabar mountain in Citarum watershed Source: Citarum Facts http://en.citarum.org/node/193 (28/1/2013 SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTER Page 3 March 2013 This site offers both suitable habitat for gibbons as well as the opportunity to engage local communities and potentially develop alternative livelihood initiatives and conservation awareness activities in the region. With at least four pairs of gibbons ready for release at the JGC, it is hoped that at least two of these could be released during 2013. As with previous releases, a large soft release enclosure will be constructed on site to enable the gibbons sufficient time to adjust to the new environment. Staff facilities will also be constructed on site to allow for care of the gibbons during this period as well as ongoing monitoring. Most importantly, the release site will be patrolled by a Gibbon Protection Unit (GPU) comprising of staff from JGF, local communities and the Forestry Department. It is critical that this GPU be formed ASAP and undergo sufficient training so that they can begin patrols prior to any gibbon release. Javan Gibbon Foundation have recently begun engaging the local communities with socialisation activities and the JGC Mobile Conservation Education Unit (MCEU) will also soon begin education activities with the local communities to ensure support of the project and encourage community values for the protection of wildlife and habitat. A new Manager will also be employed for the Malabar site to ensure effective operations and communication. SGP is hoping to be able to fund a significant portion of this project but as you can imagine, this is a costly exercise and we will require considerable increase in income this year in order to assist. A released Javan gibbon in Pattiwel Forest Most importantly, the release site will be patrolled by a Gibbon Protection Unit (GPU) comprising of staff from JGF, local communities and the Forestry Department. It is critical that this GPU be formed ASAP and undergo sufficient training so that they can begin patrols prior to any gibbon release. Javan Gibbon Foundation have recently begun engaging the local communities with socialisation activities and the JGC Mobile Conservation Education Unit (MCEU) will also soon begin education activities with the local communities to ensure support of the project and encourage community values for the protection of wildlife and habitat. A new Manager will also be employed for the Malabar site to ensure effective operations and communication. SGP is hoping to be able to fund a significant portion of this project but as you can imagine, this is a costly exercise and we will require considerable increase in income this year in order to assist. Javan Gibbon Foundation undertaking socialisation Javan Gibbon Foundation members with activities at the release site in Java. local stakeholders SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTER Page 4 March 2013 LECTURE ON GIBBONS BY EMERITUS PROFESSOR WARREN BROCKELMAN, UWA A Report by SGP Member Pauline Hansen Recently Marsha Sullivan and I attended a public lecture at the University of Western Australia hosted presentation by Emeritus Professor Warren Brockelman on gibbon biology. Professor Warren, now retired, continues as an advisor at the research institute where he worked at the school of Biology at Mahidol University, Salaya, Thailand. He began by confirming that there are 17 species of gibbon recognised by primate taxonomists. From 1975, Professor Warren has been actively interested in the ecology and behaviour of gibbons. Thailand is an ideal place to be situated for gibbon studies as it is central to the current gibbon ranges which are only located along the Sunda Shelf and continental Asia; that is, some Indonesian Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and a small population in Hainan Province, China. In the past century these little apes became a focus for scientists because – among other things - their locomotor skills which are distinct from the other apes, and their skeletons are very different from the quadrupedal primates. The differences in morphology may be indicators of the evolutionary changes that preceded the emergence of humankind. Another focus of interest is the remarkably complex social system among gibbons in comparison to other mammals. It includes monogamous pairing, territoriality, and their elaborate vocal calls, often singing duets with their life time mates. Professor Brockelman‟s presentation was in relation to the fact that despite considerable study and the accumulation of knowledge about gibbons, there are a number of basic questions unanswered about the gibbons social systems and the mechanisms that maintain those systems. The focus of the talk was how to explain why there is so little overlap in ranges between species and why there is very little evolutionary radiation; that is, increase in taxonomic diversity or morphological difference. Professor Brockelman explained that gibbons tend to live in small family groups, and are ardently territorial. Pairing adults are usually monogamous, are mostly frugivorous (fruit eaters) with additional foods such as leaves, shoots and invertebrates. Adults of all the species are similar in size with the exception of the Siamang which is the largest gibbon species, and is also mostly folivorous (leaf eating). Why is there so little overlap and diversity? Professor Brockelman explored 4 areas: (1) Rivers and seas may be boundaries, (2) differences in habitat, (3) reproduction isolation, and (4) ecological competition. Rarely do ranges overlap. An exception is with the Siamangs and the Javan Gibbons. Occasionally ranges may border one another. Seas and rivers do appear to be natural barriers today but it would not always have been the case.