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The anti-predator behaviour of wild white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar)

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Abstract

Predation on gibbons is rarely observed in the wild. However, the gibbons' moderate body size and relatively small social groups suggest high vulnerability to predation. To assess the role of predation and to study their anti-predator behaviour, we presented visual predator models to nine groups of wild white-handed gibbons at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand. We measured subjects' immediate and delayed responses to four potential predators: tiger, clouded leopard, crested serpent eagle and reticulated python. Subjects reliably approached all four predators. In response to tigers and leopards, they additionally produced predator-specific songs and defecated copiously. In terms of delayed responses, distance between mated adults decreased, but only after exposure to the tiger model. In response to eagles and pythons, gibbons consistently vocalised, but this did not always include predator singing, and we found no long-term effects in overall activity or strata use. However, during 6 of 26 predator encounters, the gibbons produced songs with a structure that was intermediate between a duet song and a predator song more than 20 min after the predator encounter, indicating a long-term effect on their vocal behaviour. This study demonstrates that gibbons discriminate between different potential predators and respond to them with adaptive anti-predator behaviour, which include predator-specific vocal responses. We conclude that gibbons are not immune to predation and that terrestrial predators elicit consistent immediate and delayed anti-predation responses.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following for their support during data collection: A. Wilkinson, B. Snyder, A. Jeneson, M. Beuerlein, N. Uhde, D. Costa-Schellenberger and the Khao Yai Bird project. We also thank K. Snyder, F. Snyder, P. and S. Snyder, H. and K. Clarke, for support during write-up, and B. Kirk for technical support. S. Homros (Jimmy), C. Mungpoonklang (Adt) and S. Seeboon (Tiang), S. Sornchaipoom (Dtai) assisted with finding and monitoring the gibbon groups. Our gratitude further goes to the National Research Council, the National Park Division, the Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and special thanks goes to the superintendent of Khao Yai National Park, Mr. Prawat Vohandee, for the permission to conduct research at Khao Yai. All experiments conducted comply with current Thai laws. This research was sponsored by a BBSRC PhD studentship awarded to Esther Clarke.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, UK

    Esther Clarke & Klaus Zuberbühler

  2. Department of Anthropology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA

    Ulrich H. Reichard

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  1. Esther Clarke
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  2. Ulrich H. Reichard
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Correspondence to Klaus Zuberbühler.

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Communicated by A. Widdig

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Clarke, E., Reichard, U.H. & Zuberbühler, K. The anti-predator behaviour of wild white-handed gibbons (Hylobates lar). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 66, 85–96 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-011-1256-5

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