Keepers at the Paignton Zoo are cautiously optimistic that a rare Pileated Gibbon baby will survive despite being born several weeks prematurely.

Born September 19 to parents Shukdi and Hantu, the baby would be the first of its species to be reared during the zoo’s 15-year breeding program.

Photo Credit:  Miriam Haas

Like all Gibbons, a Pileated Gibbon baby clings to its mother’s belly for the first several months of life.  Because the baby is so closely held by mom, keepers are often unable to determine the baby's gender until it begins exploring on its own.     

Male and female Pileated Gibbons display sexual dimorphism – males and females look differently from one another.  Females have light-colored bodies and dark faces, while males have all black fur with white markings. 

Found in Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, Pileated Gibbons live in the treetops and feed during the day on fruit, leaves, and small animals.  They are listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, due to hunting and severe habitat loss and fragmentation. 

See more photos of the baby Gibbon below.