Calling for community: Saving the song of the Javan gibbon

Java, Indonesia’s most populated island, has lost much of its forests to agriculture, urbanisation, and infrastructure. Today, less than 10% of the island is forested and the Endangered Javan gibbon survives only in fragmented patches. Gunung Halimun Salak National Park, the largest remaining forest block on Java, is home to 25–50% of the species population. However, human activities within and around the park threaten its habitat, placing Javan gibbons at risk of isolation and local extinction. With the Whitley Award, Rahayu (Ayu) and her team will focus on five critical areas within the park where villages overlap with key gibbon habitat.

FOREST FRAGMENTS

Java is the most densely populated island on Earth, home to over 60% of Indonesia’s population. Most of its original forest has been destroyed, and the remaining forests, which are also home to leopards, Hawk Eagles, langurs and pangolins, are fragmented. Javan gibbons depend on continuous canopy cover for movement and foraging and are now restricted to 30 forest fragments – the largest being Gunung Halimun Salak National Park. Covering over 87,000 hectares, the park encompasses 116 villages, including Sundanese communities and Indigenous groups living within or near the boundary. Growing settlements in the area increase pressure on the delicate habitat and threaten what remains. Rahayu _Oktaviani _2025_Indonesia_Fieldwork_Team

PROMOTING A SENSE OF PRIDE

To protect Javan gibbons, Ayu and her team believe efforts must go beyond legal protection. Raising awareness and promoting a sense of pride in coexisting with Javan gibbons is a key element of their plan for long-term success. Drawing on a decade of research into gibbon behaviour and habitat needs, Ayu and her team at KIARA (Konservasi Ekosistem Alam Nusantara) will work with community members, park rangers and managers to build capacity, monitor biodiversity and guide conservation strategies toward a shared vision. Rahayu _Oktaviani _2025_Indonesia_Species_Javan Gibbon_Learning to make a song

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

To complement these conservation efforts, Ayu and her team will work with local communities to identify and develop suitable sustainable livelihoods. Through KIARA’s Ambu Halimun initiative, they run eco-print workshops and financial literacy training for local women, empowering participants and creating sustainable income streams. With the Whitley Award, the team will expand these opportunities, supporting more women with financial and leadership training and fostering greater involvement in conservation and community decision-making. Rahayu _Oktaviani _2025_Indonesia_Community_Making Ecoprint Products

WITH THE WHITLEY AWARD, AYU AND HER TEAM WILL:

Increase community involvement in Javan gibbon conservation through participatory mapping and development of a sustainable livelihood and species Conservation Action Plan
Develop and disseminate outreach materials about Javan gibbons based on long-term monitoring
Expand conservation education and outreach at schools and communities, engaging at least 300 students and 100 households
Enhance the capacity of Gunung Halimun Salak National Park authorities to design effective conservation management plans based on reliable data

TOP FACTS:

In Sundanese culture, the Javan gibbon, called “Uwek”, is part of the folklore and is believed to bring rain with its song.
Javan gibbons communicate through vocalisation. Their song is used to mark their territory and strengthen their bond with family members.
Adult gibbons share long-term bonds and have been observed to stay with their partners for as long as 14 years.

Image credits: Nathan Rusli (Headshot)