Forested enclosures for orphan gibbons

Dao Tien Endangered Primate Species Centre rescues Golden-cheeked gibbons from the illegal wildlife trade in South Vietnam.    From over 18 years of gibbon rescue, rehabilitation, and post-release monitoring, we have learnt that fast-tracking healthy infants, either with a surrogate mother or a peer, into forested enclosures is the most important factor in meeting IUCN release criteria when they are old enough for release.

As soon as the infant gibbons are big enough, we introduce them to a surrogate gibbon mother. At this point, the gibbon mother takes over most of the rehabilitation - we just have to try our best to ensure the environment is correct; natural forested enclosures create gibbons fit for release.

CHIVERS was starved for years and was eventually abandoned.  Rescued in August 2026 in an extremely malnourished condition

Dao Tien Rescue Centre is located on a 56-hectare island, where we have planted native fruit trees. We are planning two more four-ha forested enclosures to provide infant gibbons with rehabilitation that enables their return to the wild.

Please support us: A forested enclosure with a solar panel electric fence $11,000

These forested enclosures provide the key to being a gibbon again. Our dedicated primate care staff provide supplementary feeding in the enclosures; otherwise, human contact is limited.  Gibbons too familiar with humans are a major cause of failure post-release.   So we place the forested enclosures in remote locations away from many people. 

A family of gibbons rehabilitating in a forested enclosure on Dao Tien island

Can you help us give gibbons like CHIVERS a chance at a successful return to the wild when healthy and old enough by providing them with a plot of trees they can call home to grow up in with a surrogate gibbon family?