Our Primates

    

Khoi's background: Arrived at Dao Tien in June 2009 after being confiscated by Wildlife At Risk. Estimated to have been born in 2007.
Character: Having spent a lot of time without gibbon company, he did not understand gibbon communication and would constantly be squeaking for human attention on first arrival. Now full of confidence this reserved young male, with his best friend Lucy, is training in the trees.
Future: On track for full release

Lucy's background: Rescued in June 2009, having been kept as a pet in a rich Westerner's house in Ho Chi, Minh City. Estimated to have been born in 2006, although she is very small due to malnutrition as an infant. She was kept with no water, mainly only banana to eat and found to be carrying many gastro-intestinal parasites.
Character: She has a strong fighting spirit for survival and in the trees, appearing to be fearless - a real adrenalin junky!
Future: On track for release

     

Limhuyen's background: Rescued in March 2009, chained inside a small concrete cage at a Vietnamese tourist resort, with Trang and Misu. Estimated to be only 6 months old when rescued.
Character: A shy gibbon, but wants to be every gibbon's friend, and will do anything for his friends.
Future: With already one year's tree training, an excellent candidate for release; feeds on wild fruit and shows little interest in humans.

Hoa's background: Rescued December 2009 from Bien Hoa City where she was kept solitary as a pet. A young female estimated to have been born in 2006.
Character: In 2010 Hoa went through her adult colour change (to blonde) and was paired with Limhuyen. Hoa is not very brave, and it takes her time to adjust to new things.
Future: September 2011 Hoa and Limhuyen were moved to phase 2; tree training. She is slowly adjusting to trees; she is great at climbing up them but not so sure how to get down again!

   

Teo's background: Teo (meaning "not so thin") was rescued as a pet along with Uh, from Bien Hoa City near Ho Chi Minh City. Estimated born in 2003. He has a twisted rib cage through rickets (a result of vitamin D deficiency from being indoors all the time), resulting in the appearance of a hunchback.
Character: He has a beautiful voice and through determination has learnt how to swing, stretching his very long body for the first time. It took him around 3 months to swing.
Future: Veterinarians gave him a clean bill of health, so it's just up to him to gain fitness to travel normally in the trees.

Uh's background: Uh (meaning "thin") was rescued with Teo from Bien Hoa City. Estimated born 2002.
Character: She is a very strong physical female often doing displays of her dominance. Teo and Uh are not as close as other gibbon pairs, but they still are only young.
Future: On track for release although we have concerns for her mate Teo; not only physically, but also his liking of humans, which may be a problem in the forest.

   

Ellie's background: On arrival to Dao Tien in January 2009 she had a chain round her neck. Estimated to have been born in 2005. Initially, when placed in the large cage she struggled to move.
Character: A very strong willed gibbon that, as she has matured, has become intolerant of other females. She prefers large male gibbons or humans.
Future: Ellie was magnificent in the trees but was too friendly to humans, and came down to them in training. At this point she is not fit for release. She is providing social company for Tau, until he is old enough for release in the central Highlands of Vietnam.

  

Tau's background: Rescued from a tourist attraction in Vung Tau 2008, kept with no water and malnourished. Estimated to have been born in 2004. With a vitamin deficiency, he just had stubble for hair.
Character: A very determined gibbon, a trait that helped him survive in such poor conditions. He would squeak and fight for food as if it was his last meal for the first few months after rescue. Now he is in beautiful condition, with a gentle, playful character. Very respectful of Ellie.
Future: On track for release.

       

Lee Lee's background: Found in the local town of Tan Phu in August 2008. Estimated to have been born in 1990, living most of his life on his own in a small cage next to a noisy generator.
Character: A very handsome gibbon but can be dangerous, to humans and other gibbons, with little understanding of social behaviour. After attempts with many females. Lee Lee finally met Merry, a very strong female who managed to calm him and teach him gibbon behaviour.
Future: In 2010 started tree training very cautiously, but with pair mate Merry to help, slowly adjusted very well and fathered an infant in May 2011. In August 2011 fitted with GPS collar and, along with his family, was released into continuous forest.

Merry's background: Confiscated by Dinh Quan forest rangers in December 2009 after being transported on the roads. Behaved like a wild gibbon, but because of a paralysed leg (presumed from the fall of capture) she had to rehabilitate at Dao Tien.
Character: Beautiful strong gibbon, with excellent wild skills and shows no interest in humans.
Future: In 2010 she and Lee Lee went onto phase 2, and she was excellent in tree training from day one. Gave birth to a healthy boy, 'Noel' in May 2011. Released with her family into continuous forest in August 2011.

    

Tim's background: Rescued together with Charlotte in January 2010 from a Kindergarten in Vung Tau. Estimated to have been born in 1990.
Character: A very strong gibbon with a beautiful song, very protective and attentive to his female.
Future: Failed health checks so a 3 ha island in a non-release centre has been built for Tim and Charlotte, where they can live out their life in trees, and be educational ambassadors for other gibbons.

Charlotte's background: Rescued with Tim after spending 20 years together in a Kindergarten in Vung Tau. Estimated to have been born in 1990.
Character: Very playful with her mate, inseparable from each other most of the time.
Future: Failed health checks so a beautiful 3 ha island has been found for them at a Vietnamese centre.

   

Nhee's background: Arrived at Dao Tien in June 2008 from Wildlife at Risk Rescue Station. Estimated to be born in 2006.
Character: A very friendly gibbon, but she does not do well in larger groups, instead preferring one to one friendships.
Future: On track for release when she is old enough.

Bien's background: Rescued from Bien Hoa on December 2009, where she was kept as a pet. Estimated to have been born in 2007.
Character: She was desperate for company when rescued and has a habit of smothering and being over protective of her friends; she is worried she may lose them.
Future: Will grow up with Nhee and then when old enough for a male, will be paired in preparation for release.

   

Trang-bom's background: Kept as a pet until rescue in October 2008. Estimated to have been born in 2004.
Character: A very gentle female who loves to groom but nervous of play behaviour. Took her over 2 years to be comfortable with play. Now paired with Hien, who has taught her how to have fun.
Future: On track for release

Hien's background: This young male arrived at Dao Tien in June 2008 from Wildlife At Risk. Estimated to have been born in 2007.
Character: A very confident young gibbon. Although young, he behaves like an adult male gibbon, even singing the adult male song and following the females.
Future: Paired with Trang bom and on track for release.

    

Dao's background: Rescued in 2007 from a Bien Hoa City school. Born in 2006, but taken from her mother at around one year of age. When rescued she had developed the stereotypic behaviour of wrapping one leg around her body, as if being held by her mother.
Character: A very playful gentle gibbon that is friendly to all other gibbons.
Future: Dao is just changing colour and on track for release. At Dao Tien we have no suitable male for her so she at present is acting as big sister and role model to Tony.

Tony's background: Rescued in 2011 from Bien Hoa city where he was kept as a solitary pet. Very small and undernourished. Estimated born in 2007.
Character: Tony is not sure how to be a gibbon and it takes him time to gain confidence. We are hoping with guidance from Dao he will make a full recovery.
Future: On track for release when he is mature.

     

Misu's background: This young female was rescued in March 2009 from being chained in a small concrete cage with Trang and Limhuyen at a tourist attraction. Estimated to have been born in 2007.
Character: Confident young gibbon that is a natural leader and friendly to other gibbons.
Prospects: On track for release when old enough.

Trang's background: This young female was rescued in March 2009 from being chained in a small concrete cage with Misu and Limhuyen. Estimated to have been born in 2007.
Character: Quiet and shy when meeting new gibbons, taking a long time to trust, but when she does she is a friend for life and will defend her friends with all her might.
Future: On track for release when old enough.

  


Mei Lee's background: Rescued from Tan Phu petrol station in August 2008, where she was kept alone as a tourist attraction.  Estimated to have been born in 1990 and DNA confirms she is Lee Lee's sister.
Character: A very strong female, who tries to dominate any other adult females she can see, shouting at them.  Enjoys spending most of her time hunting for insects.  Very humanized when first rescued but over the last year behaves more naturally.
Future: Considered too old to cope with full rehabilitation for release.  Will happily live out her life with Charlie in a sanctuary.

  

Charlie's background: Rescued in January 2010, living next to Charlotte and Tim, from a Kindergarten on Vung Tau.  Estimated to have been born in 1990.  When rescued he was very underweight and nervous.
Character: Has gained confidence and suprised us all by taking living with a female for the first time in 20 years in his stride.
Future: Has failed health checks so will live out his retirement years with Mei Lee as a companion.  From day one they were very comfortable together.

   

Ha's background: Arrived at Cat Tien during 2005 with Noi, having been rescued from a schoolyard in Bien Hoa City. Estimated to have been born in 1985.
Character: Very protective of his female and, even as old gibbons, maintain a very strong pair bond.
Future: Has failed checks and plans are in progress for the pair to be transferred to a non-release sanctuary.

Noi's background: Arrived at Cat Tien during 2005 with Ha, having been rescued from a schoolyard in Bien Hoa City, where they had produced many babies which were taken away and sold into the illegal trade. Estimated to have been born in 1985, Noi has no fingers on her right hand as a result of being caught in a snare when taken illegally from the wild.
Character: A strong, dominant female, but now she is in her twenties, quieting down and enjoys sitting in the sun.
Future: Has failed health checks along with her mate, so plans are being made for her to spend her last years in a sanctuary.

  

Nha's background: Rescued from a tourist restaurant in August 2008. Estimated to have been born in 2002.
Character: A silly, curious, but very handsome gibbon.
Future: Excellent in the trees but his curious nature brought him down to the ground, something that wild gibbons do not do. At the moment there are no plans to release him. Nha with his female and son (Dong) do make a very strong unit though.

Cuchi's background: Rescued by Wildlife At Risk and transferred to Dao Tien for release. Estimated to have been born in 2005.
Character: Cuchi is a very steady female and a good mum. Her son, Dong, who was a very big baby, is proving to be very precocious.
Future: Cuchi is good in the trees, but because of her males' failure she is waiting for him, so at present there are no plans for release.

 

Samee's background: Rescued with the help of Vung Tau forest rangers in July 2008, after being kept solitary in a small cage as a tourist attraction. Samee had three rotten canines and refused to sing.
Character: Unlike other gibbons, he has a very quiet inquisitive nature, but can be seen playing madly when no one is looking.
Future: We are hoping to find a suitable female for him soon, so he no longer has to be alone.

 

Luat's background: Rescued in February 2010 from Binh Phuc Province after being given as a military gift and kept as a solitary pet. Estimated to have been born in 2007.
Character: He is a very energetic confident young male who never sits still, crashing around, creating as much noise and mayhem as possible! As yet we have no companion for him.
Future: After failing health checks Luat is not suitable for release, so we are looking for a long-term sanctuary for him.

• Rescued with severe paralysis as a consequence of being confined in a small cage
• By the age of five, when Dao Tien staff found her, she was also blind from cataracts.
• With the support of eye surgeons from Ho Chi Minh City, Mika underwent successful ground-breaking cataract surgery in November 2008. To read all about the ground breaking surgery click here.