Episode 4: Show Notes.

With the majority of attention given to chimps, orangutans, and gorillas, it is a mystery why the beautiful and intelligent gibbon is not as well documented and cared for. One of the reasons for this may be the lifestyle and residence of the gibbon, naturally spending most of its life high off the ground, above the canopy of trees. Here to share his thoughts and talk about his work with rescuing and rehabilitating gibbons is Thanaphat Payakkaporn, who is the Secretary-General of the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand. Thanaphat also works with The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, an NPO dedicated to repopulating natural spaces with these wonderful animals. Today, we have an informative and funny conversation about the personalities and habits of gibbons, with our guest sharing his expertise on breeding, feeding, and much more! There is also a darker side to this discussion, with Thanaphat explaining the horrible ways in which gibbons have been treated in order to capture and exploit them for money. Near the end of the episode, Thanaphat gives some details on how you can support his project and lend a hand in this struggle for a healthier situation, and we hope you will consider donating! Listeners can expect to come away with an enhanced perspective on the life of gibbons, their status in Thailand currently, and what needs to be done in order to ensure a better future for them. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Thanaphat's upbringing and background, and how he got involved in conservation work. 
• A little bit about the non-profit that Thanaphat works for, The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.
• Understanding the place of the gibbon and its relation to humankind. 
• The characteristics of gibbons and the immediate similarities to people. 
• A life above the canopy; difficulties of spotting a gibbon in the wild.
• The drop in gibbon numbers in Thailand over the last few decades. 
• The need for initiatives such as The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project and the important work that they do. 
• Poaching practices in Phuket and the cruel way that baby gibbons are captured.
• The sites in Thailand that the project services and is trying to repopulate. 
• The process that is undertaken when a gibbon is rescued; health, bonding, and acclimatization.  
• Government sanctuaries for gibbons that cannot be released back into the wild.
• Quarantines for new gibbons brought in for rehabilitation; the vital steps in this process.
• The gibbon diet; picky eating, unique habits, and preferred flavors. 
• How order and hierarchy are maintained in the sanctuary — communicating superiority to a gibbon. 
• Relationships between staff and gibbons and the number ratios for this.
• Mate-selection and baby-raising among gibbons.  
• The biggest threats to gibbon apes in Thailand and the rest of Asia. 
• Areas for gibbon repopulation across Thailand — inhabitable forests and natural habitats.
• The move towards greener practices and the value attached to the survival of the gibbon. 
• How to help Thanaphat and his project and some information about the donations that they rely on!
• Thanaphat's thoughts on policy and high-level changes that can aid gibbons.

Tweetables:

“The main goal of the project is to rescue and return them back to the wild. That's basically what we do.” — Thanaphat Payakkaporn [0:14:20]

“They tend to be nice with you, to get your attention and if you get tricked with this, they just grab you and bite you!” — Thanaphat Payakkaporn [0:34:19