Gibbons are known for their beautiful calls and their ability to swing effortlessly through the forest canopy. But some of these animals are ending up in a very different environment: inside suitcases, being smuggled through international airports. A new analysis by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia has documented at least 86 gibbons intercepted in 33 international smuggling incidents over 32 months. Malaysia features prominently in the findings, with Kuala Lumpur International Airport linked to the highest number of incidents. So, what is happening to these animals, why are they being trafficked, and what can be done to stop this trade? Joining us to discuss the findings of their research, Canopy to Cabin: Southeast Asia's Gibbon Smuggling by Air, are Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, and Sandra Wong Jye Wen, Data and Research Officer at TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, both co-authors of the analysis. 

Gibbons are known for their beautiful calls and their ability to swing effortlessly through the forest canopy. But some of these animals are ending up in a very different environment: inside suitcases, being smuggled through international airports. A new analysis by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.traffic.org/">TRAFFIC Southeast Asia</a> has documented at least 86 gibbons intercepted in 33 international smuggling incidents over 32 months. Malaysia features prominently in the findings, with Kuala Lumpur International Airport linked to the highest number of incidents. So, what is happening to these animals, why are they being trafficked, and what can be done to stop this trade? Joining us to discuss the findings of their research, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.traffic.org/publications/reports/canopy-to-cabin-southeast-asias-gibbon-smuggling-by-air/">Canopy to Cabin: Southeast Asia's Gibbon Smuggling by Air</a>, are Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/Trafficsea/">TRAFFIC Southeast Asia</a>, and Sandra Wong Jye Wen, Data and Research Officer at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/traffic_wltrade/">TRAFFIC</a> Southeast Asia, both co-authors of the analysis.&nbsp;

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

Earth Matters

Inside Southeast Asia's Gibbon Smuggling Trade

We're heading towards COP31, the annual United Nations climate conference where governments from around the world come together to negotiate and make decisions on how to tackle climate change and the climate crisis. This year's meeting takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, and there's plenty at stake, from climate finance and the transition away from fossil fuels to the support needed by countries already dealing with the effects of climate change. So, what should we be looking out for, particularly from the perspective of the Global South? To explore this and more, we speak to Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Deputy Executive Director of the Third World Network.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

We're heading towards <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://cop.sifiratikvakfi.org/en/">COP31</a>, the annual United Nations <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://unfccc.int/cop31">climate conference</a> where governments from around the world come together to negotiate and make decisions on how to tackle climate change and the climate crisis. This year's meeting takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, and there's plenty at stake, from climate finance and the transition away from fossil fuels to the support needed by countries already dealing with the effects of climate change. So, what should we be looking out for, particularly from the perspective of the Global South? To explore this and more, we speak to Meenakshi Raman, the President of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://foe-malaysia.org/">Sahabat Alam Malaysia</a> and the Deputy Executive Director of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://twn.my/">Third World Network</a>.Image Credit: Shutterstock

COP31: Climate Justice or Business as Usual?

Congo might seem a long way from Malaysia, but the two are connected in ways we don't always think about. The minerals extracted from Congolese soil help power technologies used around the world, while here at home, communities are asking what happens when development puts pressure on their land, livelihoods and environment. These aren't just questions about where we get our resources from. They're also about who benefits from development, whose voices are heard, and what progress should look like in the first place. To explore these connections, we're joined by filmmaker, educator and ancestral ecologist Petna Ndaliko Katondolo, and director of Deep Cobalt, and also Maurice Carney, co-founder and Executive Director of Friends of the Congo. We'll look at what Congo can tell us about the choices we're making here in Malaysia, and the lessons we might find in Indigenous relationships with the natural world.

Congo might seem a long way from Malaysia, but the two are connected in ways we don't always think about. The minerals extracted from Congolese soil help power technologies used around the world, while here at home, communities are asking what happens when development puts pressure on their land, livelihoods and environment. These aren't just questions about where we get our resources from. They're also about who benefits from development, whose voices are heard, and what progress should look like in the first place. To explore these connections, we're joined by filmmaker, educator and ancestral ecologist <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/petna_ndaliko_katondolo">Petna Ndaliko Katondolo</a>, and director of Deep Cobalt, and also <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/congofriends">Maurice Carney</a>, co-founder and Executive Director of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://friendsofthecongo.org/">Friends of the Congo</a>. We'll look at what Congo can tell us about the choices we're making here in Malaysia, and the lessons we might find in Indigenous relationships with the natural world.

Deep Cobalt: Congo's Mines and the Cost of Our Gadgets

What do trees, butterflies, spiders and forgotten food traditions have in common? They’re all part of the books that have shaped Bilqis Hijjas’s relationship with the natural world. The Director of Rimbun Dahan and committee member of the Biji Alam Awards, Bilqis joins us and co-host Dylan Jefri Ong (co-founder, Sunda Shelves) to explore how books can help us discover the wildlife around us, preserve traditional knowledge and see familiar creatures and landscapes in a new light. From practical field guides to nature essays and children’s stories, we look at the many ways reading can bring us closer to the world around us.

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with independent bookstoreSunda Shelves.

Works discussed during this episode:


Heritage Trees of Penang by Simon Gardner, Pindar Sidisunthorn and Lai Ee May


A Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies of Malaysia by Dr Lawrence G. Kirton


Recalling Forgotten Tastes by Sharifah Nadhirah


Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald


Aranea: A Story About a Spider by Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks


Barbapapa's Ark by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor

What do trees, butterflies, spiders and forgotten food traditions have in common? They’re all part of the books that have shaped Bilqis Hijjas’s relationship with the natural world. The Director of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rimbundahan.org/">Rimbun Dahan</a> and committee member of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bijialamawards.org/">Biji Alam Awards</a>, Bilqis joins us and co-host Dylan Jefri Ong (co-founder, Sunda Shelves) to explore how books can help us discover the wildlife around us, preserve traditional knowledge and see familiar creatures and landscapes in a new light. From practical field guides to nature essays and children’s stories, we look at the many ways reading can bring us closer to the world around us.Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with independent bookstore<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/sundashelves"> Sunda Shelves</a>.Works discussed during this episode:<ol><li>Heritage Trees of Penang by Simon Gardner, Pindar Sidisunthorn and Lai Ee May</li><li>A Naturalist's Guide to the Butterflies of Malaysia by Dr Lawrence G. Kirton</li><li>Recalling Forgotten Tastes by Sharifah Nadhirah</li><li>Vesper Flights by Helen Macdonald</li><li>Aranea: A Story About a Spider by Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks</li><li>Barbapapa's Ark by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor</li></ol>

Inside Southeast Asia's Gibbon Smuggling Trade

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