Natural bridges to reconnect the last Javan gibbons

JAVA — Indonesia. Throughout the misty mountains of central Java, the call of the Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) once echoed throughout the forest. Today, their voices are fading. Java is one of the most densely populated regions on Earth, and decades of logging, agriculture and infrastructure development have fragmented the forest, while rampant hunting and the illegal pet trade have also taken their toll.With only an estimated 4,000 Javan gibbons left in the wild, they are now listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Many of the remaining populations have been left stranded in disconnected patches of forest, unable to move without uninterrupted canopy cover. Conservationists warn this isolation makes them vulnerable to disease and limits their ability to find mates, leading to inbreeding.To address this, local NGO SwaraOwa has been working with local communities to reconnect these isolated areas of forest. By planting “forest corridors,” stretches of native trees that link up isolated forest blocks, they hope to provide a green pathway for gibbons to find their way back into larger areas of forest, and the other gibbons that live there. The corridors not only allow the gibbons to move, but also support countless other species that depend on Java’s forest ecosystems.SwaraOwa believes working with the local community is the key to success. Young farmers in Medolo village have taken the lead in growing native seedlings and restoring key areas between forests. As trees begin to take root and corridors expand, conservationists and locals alike hope the gibbon’s call will once again ring across Java’s forests.Mongabay’s Video Team wants to cover questions and topics that matter to you. Are there any inspiring people, urgent issues, or local stories that you’d like us to cover? We want to hear from you. Be a part of our reporting process—get in touch with us here!Banner image: Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch). Image ©Nanang Sujana.