Four gibbons released in the forest

THALANG: Four gibbons from the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (GRP) were released into the forest this morning. The gibbons – Fish, Bamboo and Mai, all four years old, and six-year old Tara, the only female – were set free about three and a half kilometers away from the Bang Pae waterfall. Upon release, Tara was the first gibbon to venture out of the cage, but quickly went back in again. Fish was the second to come out. All four eventually emerged from the cage, but all remained close to it and went back in from time to time. The four gibbons have never lived in the wild; they are all the offspring of gibbons that were under the GRP’s care. Mai was born on an island in Phang Nga Bay where the GRP had previously released some gibbons, while the other three were born at the GRP’s headquarters. Vice-governor Niran Kalayanamit, who led volunteers in the release ceremony, said, “This is a very good project. It encourages eco-tourism and presents a good image of Thailand. It is also consistent with the Buddhist belief of not killing animals.” Preecha Sonserm, director of the GRP, said that the cage would be left in the forest for the time being until the gibbons got used to living in the wild. GRP volunteer Kathrin Greve, from Germany, will stay overnight in the forest to observe the gibbons on their first night out.