Gibbons around Krabi or on Ko Phangan? (2 Viewers)

[Winterdune]

Hi all,

When I was last in Thailand about 25 years ago we stayed at what I think must have been Railay beach, and every morning there were gibbons singing in the forest on the karst mountains around us. I assume, with all the development, they are long gone? Can anyone confirm this? Also, are there any on Ko Phangan?

Thanks,

Sean

 

[Jacana]

The only gibbons i saw or heard on KPN were babies that were being paraded on the beach. Very sad.

 

[david kelly]

Hi all,

When I was last in Thailand about 25 years ago we stayed at what I think must have been Railay beach, and every morning there were gibbons singing in the forest on the karst mountains around us. I assume, with all the development, they are long gone? Can anyone confirm this? Also, are there any on Ko Phangan?

Thanks,

Sean

I was at Railey Beach in 1998 and the Gibbons were still there.

David

 

[Hanno]

Don't recall hearing any Gibbons in Krabi last time I was there. The only place in Thailand where I heard lots of Gibbons was Hala Bala in the far South.

 

[Alf King]

Heard and saw gibbons in Kao Yai and Kaeng Kraechen in April 2008.

 

[gandytron]

Hi Sean,

There were still Gibbons singing around Ao Nang (v. close to Railay) in early 2004, and I saw Dusky Langurs from a long-tail boat just offshore from Tonson Beach (next to Railay) in Nov 2004.

Best wishes

Dave

 

[paddleasia]

If you hear gibbons anywhere in Krabi, you can be pretty sure they're sitting in a cage singing. I lived in Ao Nang from '94 to '96 and that was the case back then.

For gibbons to be on a small island like Ko Phangan means that no one throughout history has captured them. The size of the island and the small amount of jungle makes me seriously doubt the possibility of them being there.

The easiest place to see wild gibbons in the south (without going all the way to Hala Bala) is Khao Sok. There are plenty of gibbons there. I've seen gibbons every single time I've been there over the past 17 years and I go there very, very often. The best time to see them - maximizing the potential of seeing them - is when the ficus are in fruit. From late November through mid January there are a lot of ficus in fruit. In addition to seeing gibbons, you'll see several species of hornbill and other birds... plus monkeys, giant squirrels and more.

 

[nickupton]

For those looking for gibbons they are easy to find at Khao Yai, Kaeng Krachan and Khao Sok. Plenty at Hala-bala but running the gauntlet of the daily bombs and random shootings on the road to the forest makes this location very dangerous to visit at the moment.

 

[giddygibbon]

Confirming I've heard gibbons from my accomodation in Tonsai for the past 3 days, November 2024, calling between 0900 and 1000. It sounds like they are calling from the forest between Tonsai and Railay West, up high. So exciting! I've not seen any gibbons in cages or 'being paraded' around, hopefully this is an example of a wild repopulation since COVID?

 

[Winterdune]

Wow that would be fantastic! Let's hope so 🤞🤞🤞