Gibbon Seizures Hit Record High in 2025

Why this is here: Authorities confiscated 336 gibbons in the first eight months of 2025, a record high and roughly 20% of all recorded seizures since 2016.

TRAFFIC analysts report authorities seized 336 gibbons from January to August 2025, a figure representing about 20% of all recorded gibbon seizures since 2016. Conservationists now believe understanding why people buy gibbons is key to stopping the illegal trade. Demand varies widely, with motivations ranging from affection in Malaysia to social status in India.

In Malaysia, people often acquire gibbons online or through informal networks as pets. Owners frequently surrender the animals when they become unmanageable, but reintroduction to the wild is challenging. India’s market includes both rural trade and wealthy urban buyers who view gibbons as prestigious pets, as well as private collections.

The capture of even one infant gibbon often destroys an entire family group. Social media is amplifying this trade, and even overriding traditional beliefs that protected the animals. Reducing demand remains critical, but changing deeply held social norms presents a major challenge.