Peter Ong, "Paternal Love", signed, 24" x 36"

Footnotes

Gibbons are a species of ape found only on the Asian continent. They are also regarded as "The Forgotten Ape" due to the minimal funding and research to support their populations compared to their Great Ape cousins. The IUCN now classifies all gibbons in the wild as either "Endangered" or "Critically Endangered". The largest species of gibbon is the mythical Siamang (Symphalangus syndactulus), which can only be found in the Central Forest Spine in Peninsular Malaysia and the Leuser Range in Sumatra, Indonesia. They are highly poached for the illegal wildlife pet trade. Siamangs - like all gibbons - pair for life. They are highly arboreal, and their singing rings through the forests, giving voice to the jungles of Southeast Asia. The male Siamang is usually tasked with child care once the infant is weaned. This image shows Papa Siamang carrying his precious child, teaching it all it needs to know to survive into adulthood. Indeed, many male Siamangs can be seen carrying their young, much like human fathers. This demonstration of deep paternal love makes this ape truly special.


This photo was captured on the mountainous slopes of the Central Forest Spine in Peninsular Malaysia.