Definitely not long-armed men in fur suits

April 26, 2020 8:12 PM

Gibbons hang out, run about, freak out about animals (rodent, dog, hedgehog), bother animals (dog, tiger), photobomb opera performances and make babies cry.

What do scientists have to say about gibbons? “Gibbons spring about in funny run” – Nature.

Previously and previouslier.

posted by catcafe (11 comments total)

By far my favorite part of working in the Indonesian forest is being woken up in the morning by dueting gibbon pairs, singing their unique songs that develop over the course of their lives together so that other gibbon pairs know where they are in the forest and know not to come bother them and steal their precious delicious ripe fruit.
posted by ChuraChura at 8:37 PM on April 26, 2020 [16 favorites]

They are certainly master brachiators.
posted by TedW at 8:43 PM on April 26, 2020 [4 favorites]

The way the gibbons react to the rodent (is it a rat?) is verrrrry similar to how I would react. Freaking out, flapping hands at it to shoo it away...
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:12 PM on April 26, 2020 [1 favorite]

Right? They look just like people.
posted by fshgrl at 10:08 PM on April 26, 2020 [2 favorites]

They also hang out with orangutans! Sometimes even in the wild.
posted by tavella at 10:58 PM on April 26, 2020 [3 favorites]

Oh gosh, that first video; I feel you monkey friend. Sometimes I gotta get the wiggles out too.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 11:20 PM on April 26, 2020 [3 favorites]

Please see Brooke-Taylor, T.; Garden, G. and Oddie, W. (1975)'s assessment of funkiness.
posted by scruss at 6:41 AM on April 27, 2020 [1 favorite]

I love it! Gibbons are definitely one of my favorites.

And: ten years of living with a primatologist has taught me a great many things. One of which: gibbons are our ape friends, not monkey friends. ;-)

Awesome Monday morning post, thanks for the smile.
posted by Theophrastus Johnson at 7:21 AM on April 27, 2020

The way the gibbons react to the rodent (is it a rat?) is verrrrry similar to how I would react. Freaking out, flapping hands at it to shoo it away...

I like how that dismissive “Now, off you fuck” wave is the same across our two species. Primate solidarity!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:57 AM on April 27, 2020 [3 favorites]

I don't care what anyone says, they're pretty great apes in my book.
posted by biogeo at 10:46 AM on April 27, 2020 [4 favorites]

The one with the tigers is amazing and nerve-wracking despite the “wacky” soundtrack.
posted by sjswitzer at 2:54 PM on April 27, 2020