The term "Cao-vit" originated from the sounds of their calls or songs that villagers of Ngoc Khe, Phong Nam and Ngoc Con communes of Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province of Vietnam use to name for them.

In 2002 a small population was rediscovered by two FFI biologists in a karst forest of Trùng Khánh District, Cao Bằng Province, in northeast Vietnam.

[7] The eastern black crested gibbon is one of the rarest and most critically endangered primates in the world.

[8] Female eastern black crested gibbons have been observed to make rhythmic displays, researchers described as dancing.

Researchers suggested such rhythmic displays "may offer new insights into our understanding of origin of human dance and language".