A new branch of little apes

A stel-lar discovery: Scientists have found a subspecies population of the endangered white-handed gibbon in Peninsular Malaysia which may have evolved in isolation.

PETALING JAYA: A local study on the endangered white-handed gibbon, including those of the species that have been illegally held captive, has led to the discovery of a distinct population in Peninsular Malaysia which may have evolved in isolation.

Announcing this on social media, the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) said the newly identified population of “little apes” is a southern subspecies of white-handed gibbons known scientifically as the Hylobates lar.