Conservationists are raising the alarm over a sharp rise in gibbon smuggling from Malaysia to India, urging immediate government intervention.

The Gibbon Conservation Society (GCS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) revealed that in 2024 alone, three smuggling cases were detected, with trafficking continuing into 2025.

In the latest case, an Indian national was caught at Mumbai Airport attempting to smuggle five infant siamang gibbons from Malaysia. Three were found dead, while two remain in critical condition.

“These cases highlight the brutal reality of wildlife trafficking, where for every smuggled gibbon, many more—especially juveniles and adult females—die during capture and transport,” said GCS president Mariani ‘Bam’ Ramli.

The groups warn that despite stringent airport security, traffickers continue to slip through Malaysia’s borders undetected, raising concerns over enforcement gaps and corruption.

They also question the fate of confiscated gibbons, urging authorities to disclose whether the rescued animals are receiving proper rehabilitation or being placed in inadequate facilities.

“We have shared our recommendations with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) and the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) Ministry, and we are still waiting for their response,” said Ramli.

GCS and IUCN are calling for stronger enforcement, international collaboration, and long-term rehabilitation efforts instead of sending confiscated gibbons to zoos.

“This is a transnational crime, and without decisive action, Malaysia’s primates face a grim future,” said IUCN primate specialist Dr. Susan Cheyne. – February 12, 2025