1. The power of gibbon songs: Going beyond the research to inform conservation actions.
- Author
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Cheyne, Susan M., Thompson, Carolyn, Martin, Alizeé, K. Aulia, Abdul Aziz, Birot, Helene, Cahyaningrum, Eka, Aragay, Joana, Hutasoit, Petricia Andini, and Sugardjito, Jito
- Subjects
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BIRDSONGS , *SCIENTIFIC communication , *ENDANGERED species , *NONGOVERNMENTAL organizations , *MOBILE games , *DIGITAL communications - Abstract
Gibbons (Hylobatidae) are the smallest of the apes, known for their arboreal behavior and stereotyped songs. These species and sex‐specific songs are often the subject of detailed studies regarding their evolution, responses to changing environments, involvement in social behavior, and used to design vocalization‐based survey techniques to monitor population densities and trends. What is poorly understood is the value and impact of using the science and sound of gibbon vocalization and gibbon stories in education and outreach to complement nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) efforts. We present an example of how Borneo Nature Foundation, a NGOs based in Indonesia, is working to use the recordings of the songs of Bornean white‐bearded gibbons (Hylobates albibarbis) to inform conservation actions and education efforts. Gibbons in Indonesia are often poorly known or understood by the public compared to orangutans (Pongo spp). We showcase how a field of study, namely primate acoustics, is an untapped resource to create digital content to engage with local, national and international communities and can be developed into educational tools in the form of storytelling, mobile apps and games, to highlight the plight of these threatened species and how to conserve them. Research Highlights: Using the science of gibbon communication in education and outreach materials can enhance the NGO communication efforts.Using digital outreach materials can reach a wide audience around the world but the science to assess the impact needs more work.We showcase how unique aspects of difference species can help conservationists to create engaging outreach materials to help support conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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