The Tragic Death of a Pileated Gibbon

There are fewer than 50,000 Pileated gibbons remaining in the world. The beautiful animal is found only in Cambodia and Thailand. Every single pileated gibbon counts. If the species is to survive, each surviving animal must be protected.

In July 2000 IPPL has learned from Ian Baird of a senseless tragedy that took the precious life of a gibbon. Because we work with gibbons, the news was doubly sad for all of us at IPPL.

Baird reported that, in April 2000, hunters set up camp in the Cardamom Mountains in Koh Kong Province, Cambodia. At dawn the lovely song of a female pileated gibbon resounded through the jungle. That sound was the gibbon's death warrant. A hunter went into the forest and brought back the lifeless body of the now and forever silent gibbon. The gibbon would be eaten and maybe her gall bladder would be sold for "medicinal" purposes.

Ian took these photos and asked IPPL to use them to help us save more pileated gibbons from such a terrible fate. Ian reports that Fauna and Flora International is working to get the Cardamom Mountains declared a million-hectare protected area.

As most readers will know, Cambodia was ravaged for years by war and land mines. The country is beautiful and was once a major tourist attraction known for its lovely temples and forests and gentle smiling people. Cambodia could be a travelers' dream destination again. It never will be if the forests and wildlife are destroyed.

Please send letters to the addresses that follow. Please remember that the Cambodian government is under-funded and is beset by many other problems, so be friendly and diplomatic.

Please request that the Cambodian Government declare the Cardamom Mountains a protected area, and that steps be taken to identify the man who shot the pileated gibbon (enclose a copy of the photo) and other poachers and to educate them and all area residents about the need to obey wildlife laws.

His Excellency Hun Sen
Prime Minister of Cambodia
Office of the Prime Minister
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

H. E. the Ambassador of Cambodia
Royal Cambodian Embassy
4500 16th St. NW
Washington DC 20011
E-mail: cambodia@embassy.org

The Cambodian Ambassador to the UN
855 United Nations Plaza, Room 420
New York NY 10017, USA