Here's why:
* Different strengths: Humans and gibbons have different types of strength. Humans are stronger in terms of absolute force and endurance, particularly in the lower body. This is due to our bipedal locomotion and adaptations for activities like running and lifting heavy objects. Gibbons, on the other hand, have incredible upper body strength and flexibility, which is essential for their unique arboreal lifestyle (living in trees). Their long arms and powerful muscles allow them to swing through the canopy with incredible speed and agility.
* Relative strength: When comparing strength relative to body size, gibbons actually outperform humans. They are incredibly strong for their size, able to swing themselves through trees with incredible force.
* Adaptations for different environments: Humans and gibbons have evolved to thrive in different environments, leading to different strengths and weaknesses. Humans are adapted for walking and running on the ground, while gibbons are adapted for swinging through trees.
In conclusion, it's not fair to compare human and gibbon strength directly as they have different types of strength that are optimized for their respective environments. Gibbons are remarkably strong for their size and possess incredible upper body strength, especially compared to humans.