Census and survey of wild black-crested gibbons (Hylobates concolor concolor) in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Black-crested gibbons (Hylobates concolor concolor) inhabit the subtropical forests of Southern China and Northern Vietnam, and have never previously been the subject of any systematic behavioral or ecological study. This report presents the findings of a three-month census and survey of black-crested gibbons in the Wuliang and Ailao Mountain Game Reserves in Yunnan province, China. The censusing methods used here were similar to those techniques used during other census studies of gibbons. The sites visited were subtropical broadleaf evergreen forests, with trees belonging to the families Fagaceae, Theaceae, Magnoliaceae, Lauraceae and Elaeocarpaceae. A total of 23-25 groups of black-crested gibbons were documented from 4 sites visited, and a group density estimate from all sites averaged 0.82 groups/km2. These gibbons were found to be polygynous with an average family group size of 7-8 animals, comprising 1 adult male, 1-4 adult females and numerous offspring of various ages. Some of the ecological and evolutionary implications of these findings are also presented.