Chester Zoo Question about gibbons

AgileGibbon

AgileGibbon

Well-Known Member
On the last walk & talk, it was said that Chester's Lar gibbons hardly ever shut up, but I've never heard a single sound out of them, despite being a frequent visitor. I understand that they might be a bit on the quiet side when indoors, but I've seen them outside before and they were just as quiet then. :(
Is there a particular time of day that they are more likely to be noisy, or do you just have to be lucky?

Thanks
 
Trust you :p. Anyway, is the amazing sound that the giant otters make not good enough? I could listen to their chirps and whistles etc all day :D
 
AgileGibbon said:
Is there a particular time of day that they are more likely to be noisy, or do you just have to be lucky?
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Gibbons calling is normally a classic 'early morning' sound, both in the wild and in zoos. Maybe they often finish calling at Chester before the Zoo opens at 10 a.m?

I've also heard some species don't call every day- but only every few days. Not sure if that is true or not. If you want to hear gibbons calling go to Twycross where they seem to call a great deal at various times of day- possibly because they have a lot of Gibbons there and so it stimulates more calling (its territorial behaviour).
 
When me and AgileGibbon went to Twycross last year, we were amazed by the gibbons calling (obviously, especially, the Siamangs).
 
Ah thanks, I was just wondering if I was unlucky, because the one time JR went there without me they all got really noisy
 
AgileGibbon said:
Make them sing on saturday then :p
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Will try :D. We've got a lot to catch up on though since we haven't been for so long.

Anyway, to bring this back to topic I'll add a question of my own:

Are the lar gibbons an experiment at the moment? I wonder whether they will eventually phase them out and fetch in a less common species. Personally, I would like to see these species at Chester:

Agile gibbons or Siamangs (in with Sumatran orangs)
Silvery gibbon (in a new enclosure - Realm of the Red Ape being part of an altogether Indonesian theme. Maybe these could be mixed, but I wouldn't like to name any specific species)
Bornean gibbon (in with Bornean orangs)
Northern white-cheeked or Buff-cheeked gibbon (Don't know where in zoo)
 
When the gibbons were kept on the large island where ringtailed lemurs now live, they always seemed to be very vocal. Although in those days I used to visit earlier in the day (the zoo opened at 9), which may explain the increased calling. The zoo always resonated with the sounds of gibbons and peacocks then.
 
Pertinax said:
If you want to hear gibbons calling go to Twycross where they seem to call a great deal at various times of day
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Like this?
YouTube - Twycross gibbons

There are so many different songs/species

possibly because they have a lot of Gibbons there and so it stimulates more calling (its territorial behaviour).
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I do wonder if it's really stressful for them when they are cheek by jowl as they are in those big cages.
 
But gibbons are naturally a very vocal animal, is it not a sign of a happier gibbon making a noise than not doing?
 
AgileGibbon said:
But gibbons are naturally a very vocal animal, is it not a sign of a happier gibbon making a noise than not doing?
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As Pertinax says, even though it is a natural sound, they use it to scare/warn rivals from their territory. With how close they are at Twycross, maybe they are all trying to intimidate each other due to 'overlapping' territories? Obviously, I could be wrong, but Pertinax knows his apes so I don't doubt what he says :)
 
I would have thought that so many gibbon groups in close proximity to each other at Twycross would cause a lot of stress . Not certain what a stressed gibbon would be like but , to me , they all look to be relaxed enough . There are also quite a few pairs breeding and rearing young in the main Gibbon House - Northern white-cheeked , pileated , agile , 2 pairs of siamang .

Twycross appears to achieve much better breeding results with its gibbons than most of its larger monkey species .

I agree that the noise when most of the gibbons at Twycross start calling is amazing .
 
Bele said:
I would have thought that so many gibbon groups in close proximity to each other at Twycross would cause a lot of stress .
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I imagine it may, but presumably not a sufficient level to prevent breeding. As you said, their record with Gibbons is considerably better than most of the other Monkeys. Presumably close proximity is a stimulus for much more territorial calling here than at most places where the Gibbons/Siamangs never hear any 'rivals' at all. Sometimes its deafening at Twycross.

I,ve rarely heard Siamangs calling at many other places which keep them. e.g. Monkey World, Marwell, Howletts/PL or Cotswold despite having visited many times.
 
Whilst I was at the zoo on Sunday, at about 12 o'clock they were very vocal, I could hear them from the bridge heading towards Islands in Danger.
 
I've heard the Monkey World siamangs quite a lot when I've been there, I notice if I don't hear them rather than being surprised if I do.
 
I've heard the gibbons at Chester a lot this year. They really kick off in early morning, one can hear them from right down by the canal. It might just be a coincidence for me, but they also seem to like sunshine and clear skies.
 
SMR said:
They really kick off in early morning, one can hear them from right down by the canal. It might just be a coincidence for me, but they also seem to like sunshine and clear skies.
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I don't think its coincidence- fine bright mornings are when Gibbons call the most (apart from at Twycross perhaps!).
 
Ah I see. I will have to hope for sunshine on saturday then, I majorly want to hear them, especially the female - I prefer female gibbon calls
 
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