The Skywalker gibbon – one of the world’s rarest primates – was only described by scientists in 2017. As a critically-endangered species living in the remote Gaoligong Mountains, conservationists worry about the apes’ dwindling population. Enter Beijing pop star Xingyu Lee and wildlife expert Professor Fan: an unlikely duo with an unorthodox plan for saving the gibbons from extinction.
Song For Love: An Ape with an App is a remarkable story at the crossroads of music and technology. Filmed in one of the world’s most challenging locations, the documentary follows a bold experiment that brings Skywalker gibbons together on “blind dates.” Like all gibbons, Skywalkers find their mates by singing. But under normal conditions amid the vast terrain, their songs are often lost to the forests and valleys, never reaching potential partners.
Using speakers and microphones to create an outdoor sound system, Lee and Fan devise a solution that could determine the future of the species. Partnering with local park rangers, big city tech companies, and international conservationists, they hope to connect the apes from miles apart. But will their “karaoke” rig create an effective matchmaking experience? And can a dating app be used practically in the wild?
Featuring spectacular footage of Skywalker gibbons in their natural habitat, the film is an intimate profile of the rare and elusive species. It also offers a glimpse of the other animals inhabiting the China-Myanmar border, including hornbills, red pandas, and other apes swinging through the canopy.
Song for Love: An Ape with an App airs Monday, August 2 at 9 p.m. and Saturday, August 7 at 1 p.m.
WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits over the air in high definition on digital 36.1; Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon FiOS 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; Comcast 819HD and Verizon FiOS 18 / 518HD in MA; DirecTV 36, Dish Network 36. Live stream the full broadcast schedule at watch.ripbs.org/livestream.
