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Gibbon 'dating agency' saves apes | Gibbon 'dating agency' saves apes |
(about 16 hours later) | |
A gibbon dating agency is helping to reintroduce once captive apes into the forests of southeast Asia. | A gibbon dating agency is helping to reintroduce once captive apes into the forests of southeast Asia. |
Unusually among apes, a male and female gibbon will mate and remain faithful to one another for life, reaffirming their bond with complex mating songs. | Unusually among apes, a male and female gibbon will mate and remain faithful to one another for life, reaffirming their bond with complex mating songs. |
But across southeast Asia, gibbons are captured and illegally held as pets. | But across southeast Asia, gibbons are captured and illegally held as pets. |
Now one conservationist is returning these apes to the wild, by first rescuing them, and then using his match-making skills to pair them up. | Now one conservationist is returning these apes to the wild, by first rescuing them, and then using his match-making skills to pair them up. |
The story of the gibbon-dating agency is told by the programme "Radio Gibbon", broadcast as part of the BBC wildlife series "Natural World". | The story of the gibbon-dating agency is told by the programme "Radio Gibbon", broadcast as part of the BBC wildlife series "Natural World". |
The agency is run by Chanee Brule, a 29-year-old Frenchman who fell in love with gibbons after seeing them in a zoo as a child. | The agency is run by Chanee Brule, a 29-year-old Frenchman who fell in love with gibbons after seeing them in a zoo as a child. |
Brule runs a sanctuary in Kalimantan | Brule runs a sanctuary in Kalimantan |
He studied the apes from a young age, producing a guide to their captive care aged 13. | He studied the apes from a young age, producing a guide to their captive care aged 13. |
Today, he runs a gibbon sanctuary in a region of Borneo called Kalimantan. | Today, he runs a gibbon sanctuary in a region of Borneo called Kalimantan. |
At the sanctuary, Brule has broken with convention in more ways than one. | At the sanctuary, Brule has broken with convention in more ways than one. |
Firstly, he broadcasts a radio station from it, Radio Kalaweit, which has been dubbed "Radio Gibbon". | Firstly, he broadcasts a radio station from it, Radio Kalaweit, which has been dubbed "Radio Gibbon". |
By playing vibrant pop music, he has acquired an active audience of young people in the region, which he also educates about ape conservation. | By playing vibrant pop music, he has acquired an active audience of young people in the region, which he also educates about ape conservation. |
As a result, he receives a significant number of tip offs about gibbons that are being illegally held as pets, or have been abandoned by their owners. | As a result, he receives a significant number of tip offs about gibbons that are being illegally held as pets, or have been abandoned by their owners. |
Brule and his team rescue these apes, caring for them at the sanctuary. | Brule and his team rescue these apes, caring for them at the sanctuary. |
But that is only the start of the work. | But that is only the start of the work. |
Rehabilitated gibbons cannot be returned alone into the wild, as they will be attacked by other pairs defending their territory. | Rehabilitated gibbons cannot be returned alone into the wild, as they will be attacked by other pairs defending their territory. |
Chanee Brule broadcasts 'Radio Gibbon' | Chanee Brule broadcasts 'Radio Gibbon' |
So Brule attempts to pair up gibbons at the sanctuary, by match-making rescued apes. | So Brule attempts to pair up gibbons at the sanctuary, by match-making rescued apes. |
"You can't put one male and one female in one cage and know for sure it will be a good pair," he says. | "You can't put one male and one female in one cage and know for sure it will be a good pair," he says. |
"You need to find the right character, the right gibbon with the right partner." | "You need to find the right character, the right gibbon with the right partner." |
In particular, says Brule, one gibbon tends to dominate within each pair, and the dominant partner can be either the male or female. | In particular, says Brule, one gibbon tends to dominate within each pair, and the dominant partner can be either the male or female. |
"If both gibbons don't want to be dominated they will fight until one dies," he says. | "If both gibbons don't want to be dominated they will fight until one dies," he says. |
So they attempt partnerships between a more dominant and less dominant character. | So they attempt partnerships between a more dominant and less dominant character. |
These pairs are then released into the forest together. | These pairs are then released into the forest together. |
In the programme, Brule releases two siamangs together onto the island of Marak off the coast of Sumatra, where he is setting up a new sanctuary. | In the programme, Brule releases two siamangs together onto the island of Marak off the coast of Sumatra, where he is setting up a new sanctuary. |
Gibbons are among the most endangered of all apes, living in tropical and sub-tropical forest in and around India and China, including the islands of Borneo, Java and Sumatra. | Gibbons are among the most endangered of all apes, living in tropical and sub-tropical forest in and around India and China, including the islands of Borneo, Java and Sumatra. |
Baby gibbons are raised at the sanctuary | Baby gibbons are raised at the sanctuary |
The belong to the small apes, which include four genera of gibbon and the siamang. | The belong to the small apes, which include four genera of gibbon and the siamang. |
The great apes include gorillas, chimps and orangutans. | The great apes include gorillas, chimps and orangutans. |
All 16 gibbon species are under threat, with 15 classed as endangered and four of them critically so. | All 16 gibbon species are under threat, with 15 classed as endangered and four of them critically so. |
The apes are threatened by habitat loss caused by deforestation, much to make way for palm oil plantations, and by poaching, with animals being stolen for the pet trade. | The apes are threatened by habitat loss caused by deforestation, much to make way for palm oil plantations, and by poaching, with animals being stolen for the pet trade. |
Brule's work is partly funded by the International Primate Protection League, a worldwide charity headquartered in Summerville, South Carolina, US. | Brule's work is partly funded by the International Primate Protection League, a worldwide charity headquartered in Summerville, South Carolina, US. |
"Radio Gibbon" will be broadcast on BBC Two at 2100GMT on Thursday 10 December as part of the BBC Natural World documentary series. |
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