40 Years of Monkeying Around!

“We’re doing something very special here,” says Gabi Skollar, the director of the Gibbons Conservation Center in Santa Clarita. “We’re changing the lives of these animals.”
Since its foundation in 1976, the GCC has made it a priority to care for and promote the survival of the gibbons species through educating the community and providing care for these endangered creatures.
Nestled in the mountains of Santa Clarita, the GCC is home to the rarest group of apes in the Western Hemisphere, and is the only institution in the world to house all four genera of gibbon. Throughout the years, the GCC has provided educational opportunities for Santa Clarita residents of all ages, and they’re undoubtedly one of the area’s most crucial facilities when it comes to species preservation.
“We’re still kind of a secret here in Santa Clarita,” Gabi shares regarding the GCC. The hope, however, is to expand upon the zoo’s current size to continue fostering a strong, resilient community of gibbons, so that more residents can see just how important these animals are to the world around us.
After the passing of founder Alan Mootnick in 2011, the GCC has maintained an important presence in SCV, and anyone who has enjoyed a tour through the facility can attest to that.
Over four decades of gibbon love and research have made the center a landmark nonprofit of Santa Clarita.
Through tours, field trips, and other research opportunities, the GCC has cemented itself in Santa Clarita’s history as a valuable asset to residents of all ages, both locally and nationwide.
“The center is a huge part of the Santa Clarita community,” says Jodi Kleier, a primate specialist at the GCC. “If we weren’t around, the residents would feel like there’s a hole where we used to be.”
The center, however, needs the community’s help to keep their doors open. As of October 2019, the GCC is in search of a new space to house the gibbons and their habitats. The GCC is currently seeking donations to move their facility to a larger space – one that will allow them to continue their valuable efforts at preserving and continuing to nurture the growth of the gibbon species.
As the city continues to develop more homes and other industrial buildings, the need for a larger, more independent facility grows, and the GCC needs your help to reach their goal of $1,000,000 in the next 22 months. As a 100% donation-based organization, the center relies on contributions from the community to continue their work and they need assistance now more than ever.
“You just connect with the gibbons through their song and it keeps you coming back,” Jodi says. “Once people come by the center, they’re gibbon-lovers for life.”
To help the GCC reach their goal and to learn more about how you can help, visit https://www.gibboncenter.org/donations.html or email info@gibboncenter.org. You can also reach the Gibbons Conservation Center at (661) 296-2737.

Help Us Preserve the Gibbons

After more than four decades, the Gibbons Conservation Center is looking to relocate as a result of a land, zoning, and environmental limitations. These factors are placing significant pressure on the center, forcing them to reconsider their current location in the heart of Santa Clarita. The GCC’s work in preserving their rare population of gibbons is crucial to the continuation of these special creatures, and the center is asking for the community’s help in reaching their $1,000,000 relocation fund goal. As of early October 2019, they’ve raised approximately $28,000, and are looking for donations of any size to help continue the work they do for the gibbons.
To make a donation towards the GCC’s relocation fund, visit https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/NjI3MTQ=. You can find more information on the GCC and their work at https://www.gibboncenter.org/. They need your help to preserve the gibbons!

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