Do you have a favorite primate? Mine is the siamang, which is a type of gibbon. They are not too big and not too small and they have really long arms that allow them to swing from limb to limb. But the real reason they are my favorite is because they sing. The sound they make is not quiet and peaceful. They make a sound that can be heard at a great distance. In fact, the Siamang is the loudest land mammal (imagine that!) I also tend to be loud and I can imitate the gibbon’s song really well. Most people ask me not to.
Five fun gibbon facts:
1) Gibbons are related to apes, not monkeys, so they do not have tails.
2) The white-cheeked gibbons have a monogamous relationship, which I think is really sweet.
3) Female gibbons are gold and male gibbons are black. Newborn gibbons are born gold to blend in with their mother and then turn black when they are older.
4) Gibbons spend their entire lives in the tree canopy, so both their hands and feet are designed for grabbing limbs.
5) Gibbons live about 25 years in the wild.
The gibbons in Disney’s Animal Kingdom live in cool abandoned-looking towers at the entrance to Asia. The towers have lots of ropes and bamboo platforms so the gibbons have lots of swinging area. I always make a point to see them when I visit the park. And now their swinging area has been expanded. I can’t wait to see all the new ways they’ll be hanging around. Happiness squared.
Goofy Tip: The Gibbon’s towers are easy to rush past on your way to or from Asia. Instead of hurrying by to use your fastpass on the next ride take a moment to observe the gibbons each time you pass. They are fun to watch, but they are not always swinging to and fro. Sometimes they are just lying around. To catch them in action you may have to visit them more than once. Luckily this is easy to do if you take the time to pause in your quest for the next attraction. I find the gibbons to be a great attraction of their own.