GIBBON CONSERVATION CENTER

A nonprofit center for the study, preservation, and propagation of highly endangered species

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About GCC

The Gibbon Conservation Center was founded in 1976 in southern California, USA, by Alan Richard Mootnick.  It is the only facility in the world devoted exclusively to gibbons, an increasingly rare ape.  We work for the endangered gibbons' benefit through conservation, propagation and study, and by teaching people about them.  GCC houses nearly 40 gibbons, among them 5 of the 15 living species:

photo by R. Agha  
Alan at GCC


Views of the Gibbon Conservation Center grounds.


GCC's shady picnic area during a talk by
Dr. Ulrich Reichard,
of the Department of Primatology at
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology,
Leipzig, Germany.

   GCC specializes in behavioral studies on gibbons, collected by students, scientists and volunteers working at the Center. Several mated pairs have produced offspring, making an important contribution to the world's captive gibbon population, both in terms of numbers and in the genetic diversity of the species.  Offspring are housed at the Center in species-typical family units until they reach adulthood. At that time, they are removed from the family and housed with a mate, which imitates what normally happens in the wild. 
   GCC also offers advice, free of charge, to zoos, government agencies and gibbon rescue centers throughout the world. A portion of donations received by GCC is given to projects devoted to the conservation of wild gibbon populations, especially those in Java, India, Kalimantan, China and Vietnam. The Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus), found only on Hainan Island off the coast of China, is considered to be the most endangered known primate. There are approximately 20 individuals left on the island!  Also nearly extinct is the Eastern black gibbon (Nomascus nasutus), of NE Vietnam, east of the Red River and southern China. There are approximately 110 of this gibbon species left, making these two gibbon species the rarest primates on earth.

   Please visit us for
educational tours by appointment at GCC.  We welcome students and other groups who are interested in learning about these fascinating apes. Tour information is available at info@gibboncenter.org or by phoning 661-296-2737 (9 AM-8 PM Pacific Time).  
   GCC is an institutional member of SEAZA (South East Asian Zoo Association).

Contact Us

General Information
Phone (9am to 8pm Pacific Time): 661-296-2737
FAX: 661-296-1237
Email:
info@gibboncenter.org
Mailing Address: GCC
P.O. Box 800249
Santa Clarita, CA 91380 USA

Volunteer Information
Email: volunteer@gibboncenter.org

Alan Mootnick, Director
Email: Alan@gibboncenter.org

Gabriella Skollar, research assistant & caregiver
Gabi@gibboncenter.org

Board, Staff, and Advisors

GCC Board of Directors
Alan Mootnick, President
Geri-Ann Galanti, Ph.D., Vice-President
Jami Kennedy, Secretary & Treasurer
Donald Sutherland, Ph.D., member of the board
Bill Benbassat, DPH, member of the board
Bob Arnold, member of the board
E. A. Hankins III., M.D., member of the board
Mike Ayars, member of the board
Dia Collins, member of the board
Howard Martin, DVM, member of the board
Patricia Dahle, member of the board
Lauren Arenson, Ph.D., member of the board

Staff
Alan Mootnick, Director
Bjorn Merker, Ph.D., Director of Research
Elaine Baker, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Research
Lori Sheeran, Ph.D., Curator of Education & Conservation
Howard Martin, DVM., Veterinarian
Gabriella Skollar, research assistant & caregiver
Patricia Dahle, Assistant to the Director
Chris Roderick and Lauren Arenson, Ph.D., Volunteer Coordinators

Medical Advisors
Marcelo Nasif, M.D.
Marvin Reingold, M.D., FACS
Peter vanTuinen Ph.D.
Diana Alexander, DVM.

 

 

Advisory Board
Ardith Eudey Ph.D.
David Chivers, Ph.D.
Rich Tenaza, Ph.D.
Joe Marshall, Ph.D.
Gene Albrecht, Ph.D.
David Churchman, Ph.D.
Kenneth Gold, Ph.D.
Roland Wirth
Ron Nadler, Ph.D.
Vellayan Subramaniam, DVM
Barbara Adolph
Jatna Supriatna, Ph.D.
Marlon Schulman, Esq.
Chris Roderick
Ann Shea
Helena Fitch-Snyder
Juanita Kempe
Craig Stanford, Ph.D.
Dan Miller

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