Schwartz, Michele R.

Knowing how to keep captive gibbons can have an impact on the field of anthropology and, in turn, improve the care of these animals in captivity. A brachiating structure designed for enriching gibbon habitat was constructed on one of two islands in a captive enclosure. The data collected was analyzed on time spent brachiating compared to time spent on the ground. A key factor in collecting data was the placement of the observer with respect to the proximity of the gibbons being observed. In this study the gibbons spent more time on the grass when observing them at close range. The gibbons spent a greater amount of time on the brachiating structure when observed from a distance. Despite complications in data collection, the gibbons displayed preference for the redesigned structure, and were observed brachiating more frequently on the stable supports than the rope supports in the unmodified enclosure.