Gibbon Conservation Center Marks 50 Years of Endangered Primate Care in Southern California

For five decades the Gibbon Conservation Center in the Santa Clarita Valley has evolved from a modest collection to a sanctuary devoted exclusively to gibbons. The facility currently houses roughly 40 individuals representing five species, many with wild populations of fewer than 2,000 animals.

How a sanctuary outside LA has cared for rare, endangered gibbons for a half-century

The center was established by the late Alan Mootnick, who acquired his first gibbon, Spanky, in 1976. After his death in 2011, director Gabi Skollar assumed leadership and lives on-site with caretaker Jodi Kleier.

How a sanctuary outside LA has cared for rare, endangered gibbons for a half-century

The roster includes northern white-cheeked gibbons (e.g., “Pepper”), pileated gibbons (“Violet” and partner “Truman”), and Javan gibbons, the first of the species successfully bred in captivity. A pair of northern white-cheeked gibbons is slated for transfer to the Pittsburgh Zoo to support broader breeding programs. The sanctuary maintains genetic diversity through births on site and exchanges with other institutions.

How a sanctuary outside LA has cared for rare, endangered gibbons for a half-century

Caretakers feed the apes five to six times daily, preparing washed lettuce, steamed sweet potatoes and bananas to mimic wild foraging rhythms. “Rocky,” a hand-reared gibbon abandoned at birth, receives daily interaction from Kleier. The gibbons vocalize three to four times each day, producing 20- to 30-minute song bouts that can be heard up to a mile away. Skollar is pursuing a doctorate at UCLA, studying these vocalizations and argues that captive observations can inform field conservation and sanctuary practices.

The Independent

Public tours are limited to weekend guided visits, but the center attracts schools, tourists, and senior groups. Partnerships with local organizations—such as The Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College—provide hands-on experience for first-year students, many of whom later join the sanctuary’s staff.

The Independent

Skollar emphasizes the sanctuary’s commitment to long-term stewardship, stating that the staff must continue caring for the gibbons despite personal plans to pursue further education. Kleier describes the Javan gibbons as her favorite species, noting the cultural significance of their calls in Javanese folklore. Both leaders cite habitat loss and illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia as drivers for their work.

The Independent

• “There’s a lot of things that we can learn in a captive setting that can be shared with conservationists in the field and also with people working in sanctuaries rescuing gibbons,” — Gabi Skollar

How a sanctuary outside LA has cared for rare, endangered gibbons for a half-century

Skollar’s strategic plan calls for fundraising to construct larger enclosures and an on-site education center, aiming to expand both animal welfare capacity and public engagement. The center also intends to continue its breeding collaborations, including the upcoming transfer of northern white-cheeked gibbons to the Pittsburgh Zoo.

The Independent