Where do gibbons live?

All gibbons live in forests. They’re happiest in the treetops, where they sleep, sing and find all their food.

They’re very adaptable to the different landscapes in their tropical and subtropical habitat countries: India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Laos PDR, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Some thrive at sea level in peat-swamp forests, near the equator, where it’s extremely humid all year round. Others live 1500m (nearly a mile) above sea level in the Chinese mountains, where they have to cope with snow!

adult female hoolock

Gibbons are arboreal, meaning they live exclusively in the trees. Although they can walk on the ground, they rely on forests for food and shelter.

 

 

 

Illustrations provided by Noah R N Shepherd