Gibbons are the smallest and fastest of all the apes. There are twenty different species, two of which have only recently been discovered. Like all apes, they’re extremely intelligent, with distinct personalities and strong family bonds.
They’re unique in many ways. They rely on their hands, not their feet, to reach the same speed as a galloping racehorse, and they’re the only apes to sing every day – well, apart from some humans!
Expert opinion
Inge: Each individual has their own character and voice. You see this easily in captivity, but also in the wild it is possible to see. It is a privilege to get to know gibbons like this. Judith: Gibbon education lies at the basis of gibbon conservation.Read more in MEET THE EXPERTS
Fact sheets
We’ve got a downloadable factsheet for every species of gibbon – ready for download soon!