I have a wildlife zoo-Chapter 605 - 604: The Gibbon’s Family Values

Nearby tourists watched the gibbons nimbly flipping and swinging from tree to tree, their eyes wide open as they followed their movements, their mouths agape with exclamations of amazement.

"Oh! Oh! Oh~ Oh~~~"

"Oh~ Oh!"

"Huff huff huff huff, awesome!"

"Wow, look, look!"

"My goodness, it's like they're flying!"

At that moment, it was as if everyone had transformed into gibbons, filling the zoo with a joyful atmosphere.

The stone pillar in the middle of the island was carved with some mysterious patterns, some of them spotty and peeling, seeming to have withstood the test of wind and rain, like ruins of an abode that primitive people once inhabited.

The stone pillar wasn't just a decorative ornament; its main function was to provide a sturdy framework for the resting platforms.

This was also a high point on the island, and sitting on or next to the perches up there to rest and enjoy the scenery was nice, and it could also become a playground for the gibbons to play hide and seek.

Sunshine and Qingtian had a standoff for a while before darting through the woods, continuing the chase to the astonishment of the tourists.

A tourist asked the animal keeper, "Why is the gibbon's singing so loud and beautiful?"

Tang Xiaoxin and Qian Keke also curiously squeezed over, naturally thinking of this question after listening to their singing!

The animal keeper smiled and explained, "Gibbons have a throat sac, also called a vocal sac, that can inflate very big when they call, making their voices extremely resonant.

They can be regarded as the singers of the animal kingdom and are the only mammals other than humans that can sing in harmony!

Styles include solo singing by the male, duets between the male and the female, and choruses by family members, among others.

The chorus usually starts with the mature male initiating the call, followed by the mature female adding a quivering resonance, along with the monotonous responses from the children, the pitch ranging from low to high, clear and piercing, audible from two kilometers away.

Gibbons are active in family units, and in the early morning, the forests will resound with the gibbons' singing, conveying information to neighboring groups and marking territory to prevent invasions of their home.

Singing also helps to strengthen bonds. In the wild, when searching for food and separated from each other, it can also serve as a signal for mutual contact and positioning."

The tourists had a moment of realization: "Oh~"

"That's some impressive singing, my gibbons!"

The animal keeper paused for a moment, a look of regret crossing his face: "The vibrant and melodious singing of the gibbons has also brought them to the brink of disaster because poachers can locate them by their songs.

Although poaching isn't as prevalent as it once was, habitat fragmentation and the reduction of forests have made it difficult for gibbons to find mates, and the situation remains grim.

There are currently 4 genera and 20 species of gibbons in the world, and China has 3 genera and 6 species, making it one of the countries with the richest variety of gibbons.

Even with so many different types of gibbons in China, the total number in the wild barely exceeds 1,500 individuals.

In addition, no evidence has been found in many years of field surveys that the northern white-cheeked gibbon and the white-handed gibbon, once widely distributed in China, still exist in the wild, leading to the possibility that these two species of gibbons are functionally extinct within the country.

So, we must protect them well, otherwise, in the future, it will become very difficult to hear their singing."

Qian Keke clenched her little fists in anger, "Poachers are so horrible! Why would they capture such adorable gibbons?"

Tang Xiaoxin also felt upset, "That's so pitiful. Such beautiful singing should never become extinct!"

After listening to the animal keeper's explanation, they walked on along the island, glancing at the display boards.

In the gibbon exhibition area, of course, there were introductions to their songs.

Primates are a major victim of misfeeding!

Even separated by a wide river, it doesn't stop visitors from wanting to feed them. Last time we cleaned the riverbed, we fished out various snacks that obviously didn't make it across.

That's why there were several prominent display boards in the area, introducing gibbon food and reminding visitors not to feed them.

The boards displayed several pictures, including common green vegetables like lettuce and colorful foods such as eggs, tamarinds, dragon fruit, apples, oranges, bananas, and grapes, all arranged in big baskets.

"The main diet of gibbons consists of low-starch vegetables and low-sugar fruits, supplemented with whole branches of leaves for the gibbons to choose from. They are also given eggs and live mealworms as a source of protein. Besides that, the zoo provides suitable pellet food, bread, and nuts to satisfy the nutritional needs of gibbons in different physiological stages," stated the board.

Passing visitors, upon seeing this, felt their appetite stimulated, even to the point of salivating!

My goodness, these gibbons eat too well.

Those wanting to feed them would feel ashamed upon seeing the display and be less likely to feed them.

In addition to introducing the gibbons' enriched diet and the harmful effects of feeding, there were also boards that shared an interesting fact: "Wild gibbons are very strategic about their food consumption.

They can eat the flowers, fruits, leaves, and buds of certain trees, but if they eat the buds of one tree, they won't eat its leaves. On another tree, they might eat only the fruit, not the flowers."

Tang Xiaoxin found this fascinating, "Gibbons even understand sustainable development!"

Thinking this way, she felt that sometimes humans are less wise than they are.

Under the trees next to the island, there was a pair of gibbon woodcarvings sitting on the branches, one looking towards the visitors and the other gently grooming its partner, appearing very affectionate.

A nearby board outlined the similarities between gibbon and human family dynamics.

Gibbons are very emotional animals. If a member of their group is injured, ill, or dies, they will cease play and remain silent for a long time, expressing their mourning for their companion.

They are also very loyal animals, monogamous for life once paired. Within their family structure, the status of males and females is equal.

Originally, there were three hoolock gibbons in Feiyuan Zoo, including Sunshine and Qingtian's parents, as well as a single young female.

Despite gazing through the cage at the couple next door and envying their love, she may have longed for it, but she never intervened as a third party to disrupt their relationship.

Once, an animal keeper was negligent and didn't secure the visiting door properly, and the male gibbon wandered into the wrong room. The single female ferociously drove him out with a flurry of punches, preventing anything inappropriate from happening. Meanwhile, the male, while being chased away, did not fight back and even appeared somewhat guilty.

And their parents have never fought over food or any other discontent.

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Gibbons also maintain kinship ties. When older relatives visit, they not only welcome them and allow the elders to caress them, but they might also allow the older gibbons to spend their final years in their home.

They uphold love, cherish family, and honor the old while caring for the young.

For humans, they could be called exemplary!