How a sanctuary outside LA has cared for rare, endangered gibbons for a half-century
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In between morning feedings, the gibbons begin to sing — loudly. Ranging from the sound of emergency sirens and birds screeching to low grunts and guttural hoots, their vocalizations…
In the remote hills of the Santa Clarita Valley, north of Los Angeles, the Gibbon Conservation Center has become a globally recognized haven for the care and well-being of gibbons, rare and critically endangered primates. Over the past five decades, the sanctuary has evolved from a modest collection of animals to a facility housing 40 gibbons across five species. Their distinctive vocalizations, ranging from sirens to guttural hoots, can often be heard a mile away by the few residents in this sparsely populated area.
The Gibbon Conservation Center was founded by Alan Mootnick, a self-taught primatologist who became a leading expert on gibbons while running a home painting and remodeling business. Mootnick published papers in scientific journals, hosted international researchers, and answered inquiries from fellow scientists about gibbon care and identification.
Director Gabi Skollar, who joined the center in 2005 after moving from Hungary to pursue her studies, has carried on Mootnick's mission since his unexpected death in 2011 due to heart surgery complications.
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