KLIA emerges as key airport for smuggling young gibbons

Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has emerged as a key hub for smuggling young gibbons, according to a new study by wildlife trade monitoring organization Traffic. The report, covering incidents between January 2024 and August 2024, recorded at least 86 gibbons intercepted across 33 airports in Southeast Asia. KLIA was implicated in 16 cases involving a total of 54 gibbons, including 32 animals seized within the airport premises.

All known gibbons were infants or juveniles, underscoring the demand for exotic pets driving this illicit trade. Traffic Southeast Asia director Kanitha Krishnasamy warned that seemingly small shipments could accumulate into devastating losses for wild populations. The report also documented seven gibbons found dead in May 2024, allegedly after being flown from Malaysia in suitcases.

Adults may be harmed or killed when young gibbons are captured, exacerbating the issue beyond the animals seized. At least 38 individuals were arrested in connection with the airport incidents, with some couriers reportedly offered cash, flights, and accommodation to transport wildlife. Traffic cautioned that detected cases likely underestimate the true scale of the trade and called for stronger airport screening measures and investigations into trafficking networks.