How a sanctuary outside LA has cared for rare, endangered gibbons for a half-century

The Gibbon Conservation Center outside Los Angeles has spent five decades caring for some of the world’s rarest and most endangered primates.

Founded in 1976 by self-taught primatologist Alan Mootnick, the centre has grown from caring for a small number of animals into a globally recognised institution dedicated entirely to gibbons. It now houses about 40 gibbons representing five species.

Known for their distinctive singing, the gibbons can be heard up to a mile away, with the animals typically singing several times a day. Director Gabi Skollar, who learned from Mootnick after moving from Hungary to the US in 2005, has continued his mission since his death in 2011.

The centre also contributes to global research and conservation efforts as gibbons face growing threats from habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade.

Photos: AP