The Gibbons Conservation Center (GCC), which houses 38 endangered gibbons, are seeking donations for their relocation fund as the organization has been forced to move from their rented space in Santa Clarita.
The GCC is an internationally recognized organization in the field of small ape research and conservation. Just last year, the GCC welcomed the birth of a newborn and critically endangered gibbon, according to the organization.
As of now, the center is located at 19100 Esguerra Road and is open for tours on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In recent years, the center has faced difficulty with development booms in the land surrounding the property, and rent payments.
“The open land that at one time provided the GCC with an ample buffer is slowly disappearing. As homes are built closer and closer to our facility, we are becoming increasingly limited in our ability to expand,” said the center in their relocation fund.
According to the organization, the gibbons are sensitive to increased dust and noise and with the next housing development in the area planned to extend not more than 500 feet from the gibbons, the construction poses a problem for the health of the animals.
Santa Clarita weather also has played a part in the need for relocation, as the arid climate has become increasingly less suitable for the gibbons and could require the center to deliver water at great costs to the gibbons if their well runs dry.
See Related: Gibbon Conservation Center Celebrates Birth Of ‘Critically Endangered’ Baby
When the founder of GCC, Alan Mootnick, passed away in 2011, the center lost ownership of the land and started paying rent in order to stay in at the Bouquet Canyon location. This placed a financial strain on the center, which is currently at an impasse with the landlord and cannot renew their lease, according to the donation fund statement.
Additionally, strict zoning regulations at the current location make it unlikely that the GCC will receive approval to build an on-site hospital, library, classroom or housing for researchers and interns, according to the organization.
Due to these circumstances, the GCC has found a new site in Lompoc, California, with temperate weather and space for bigger enclosures, storage, a hospital, a classroom for school children and housing for interns.
To relocate, the center needs to raise a minimum of $1,000,000 while also securing the funds needed for daily operations at the current location.
The Gibbons Relocation fund can be found here, and will be used to purchase the land. According to the center, they will also need funds to obtain permits, build the new infrastructure and move the gibbons.
The center has raised $161,200 of their goal as of Friday. There are 63 days left for their donation fund.
“Together we can work to secure the Gibbon Conservation Center’s future, create safe habitat for the gibbons and build a facility that will serve the gibbons and the conservation community for years to come,” said the center’s statement. Apart from financial support, people can support the center by sharing its fundraising campaign with others.”
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