{
  "id": 10088333,
  "title": "Traffic noise may be changing the songs of Malaysia’s gibbons",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/traffic-noise-may-be-changing-the-songs-of-malaysias-gibbons",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-26T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/09/27/traffic-noise-may-be-changing-the-songs-of-malaysia-s-gibbons"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a tropical forest, the morning chorus is filled with the calls of gibbons, birds, insects, and occasionally gibbons' powerful songs that carry through the canopy. However, researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) have discovered that gibbon groups living near noisy roads appear to call less frequently than those in quieter surroundings. This finding raises concerns about how traffic and development may impact the soundscape of a forest even when the trees remain standing. A study led by USM doctoral student Benjamin Galea compared the morning calls of white-handed gibbons at three Malaysian sites with varying degrees of human disturbance. The research, conducted in 2023 and 2024, found that gibbons living near a highway called just 36% of the time, compared to 71.4% at a quieter seaside location and 84.6% near a hiking trail. Gibbon calls can travel nearly 1 kilometer through dense vegetation and serve important functions such as communication between groups, territorial interactions, and social bonds. Researchers emphasize that sound is central to how these animals interact over long distances. If traffic masks their calls, it could affect various aspects of their lives, including territory defense, pair coordination, and warning others of potential danger. Gibbon calls may also contribute to a broader network of communication among animals sharing the same habitat. While heavy traffic may make calling less effective, gibbons may adapt by singing earlier, potentially interfering with resting, feeding, or communication with neighboring groups not active at the same time. The hiking-trail group called the most frequently, possibly due to their proximity to another gibbon group and the need to defend their territory acoustically. However, there is still uncertainty about the minimum amount of calling necessary for successful communication. This research highlights the often unnoticed changes in a forest's acoustic environment caused by human activities, suggesting that conservation efforts should consider not only the remaining forest area but also the sensory experiences of wildlife within it. White-handed gibbons are already classified as endangered, with their population declining by over 50% in the past 45 years due to habitat destruction, hunting, and other factors. The study suggests that noise pollution could be another less visible pressure on these already fragmented populations.",
  "summary": "USM researchers are looking at how development may be reshaping the forest soundscape on which these endangered animals depend.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Traffic noise may be changing the songs of Malaysia’s gibbons",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/traffic-noise-may-be-changing-the-songs-of-malaysias-gibbons-10090565",
        "published": "2026-09-26T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}