Half-Century Sanctuary Near Los Angeles Nurtures Endangered Gibbons and Advances Conservation Research

The Gibbon Conservation Center, situated in the dry hills of the Santa Clarita Valley, marks five decades of dedicated gibbon care, now supporting around 40 individuals from five endangered species. Alan Mootnick, a self-taught primatologist who started the sanctuary in 1976, laid the groundwork for its scientific reputation, publishing papers and advising researchers worldwide. Since Mootnick’s death in 2011, director Gabi Skollar has continued his mission, residing on the property and managing daily routines that include feeding the apes five to six times a day to mimic wild foraging.

Staff members such as Jodi Kleier, a longtime caretaker, nurture the gibbons with fresh produce and personal attention, while volunteers and school groups participate in hands-on learning. The center achieved the first captive breeding of Javan gibbons and is preparing to send a pair of northern white-cheeked gibbons to the Pittsburgh Zoo. Ongoing research on vocalizations at UCLA aims to inform field conservation, and future plans call for larger habitats and an education center to broaden public outreach.