Gibbon trafficking reaches record high as conservationists mark awareness day

All 20 species of gibbons inhabiting the tropical forests of Asia are currently threatened by human activities, including deforestation, hunting, and the illegal trade of infants for the exotic pet market, Mongabay reported on October 24. Marking International Gibbon Day on October 24, coverage from Mongabay, India Today NE, and The Sentinel highlighted the increasing pressures on these primates, including northeast India's only ape species. [1][3][4][5]

Data compiled by Mongabay journalist Ana Norman Be showed that gibbon trafficking seizures reached an all-time high in 2025. Between January and August 2025 alone, authorities recorded 336 individual gibbons in illicit trade seizures. Mongabay reported that wildlife rehabilitation centers are currently overwhelmed by the volume of confiscated animals. [1]

According to Mongabay, conservation initiatives are actively attempting to mitigate these declines. Efforts include localized protection strategies, such as a women's collective working directly to safeguard gibbon populations and their forest habitats from illegal poaching and logging. [1]

The observances coincide with other global wildlife initiatives. Daily Excelsior reported on October 23 regarding the International Day of the Snow Leopard, focusing on habitat protections for the species in Jammu and Kashmir. [2]