White-Handed Gibbon

Hylobates lar

The white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar), also called the lar gibbon, is a small ape from the forests of mainland Southeast Asia and parts of Sumatra. It has very long arms, no tail, and pale hands and feet that stand out whether the body coat is black, brown, or creamy blond. Family groups defend treetop territories with loud male-female duets, and most travel is by brachiation, swinging hand over hand through high branches. Fruit is important in the diet, but leaves, flowers, and insects are also eaten.

Zoo programs and sanctuaries manage white-handed gibbons as socially sensitive apes, usually in bonded pairs or family groups rather than large troops. Housing must emphasize height, flexible routes, ropes, sway poles, and warm sheltered areas because ground space alone does little for a brachiating animal. Gibbons taken from the pet trade can be difficult to integrate and may carry lasting behavioral problems. Conservation planning addresses forest loss, hunting, and illegal infant capture, with studbooks and field projects helping maintain genetically useful populations under human care.