Houston Zoo Welcomes First Northern White-Cheeked Gibbon
HOUSTON (June 13, 2023) – It’s a Houston Zoo first! A male northern white-cheeked gibbon was born on May 30 to first-time parents Ting and Max. This is the first time this species has been born at the Houston Zoo. Guests can see the new family in Wortham World of Primates, next to the De Brazza’s monkeys. While mother and baby bonding is going well at the moment, the first few weeks are crucial, and the animal care team is keeping a close watch on the pair. The keepers who have dedicated their lives to caring for the gibbons will have the honor of naming the newborn.
On Sunday at 9 PM, Mei, a white-handed gibbon, became a first-time mother.
Oakland, CA – May 31, 2023… Oakland Zoo is celebrating the arrival of its newest resident, a white-handed gibbon baby, born this past weekend to parents Mei (female, age 12) and Rainier (male, age 11). Animal care staff observed, via live cam, as Mei began laboring at 3 PM on Sunday in the gibbon’s nighthouse. Six hours later, she successfully gave birth and immediately began demonstrating excellent maternal care by cradling and nursing her newborn baby. The delivery comes after a four-year-long courtship between Mei and Rainier, both as first-time parents who were introduced at Oakland Zoo after coming from other AZA-accredited zoos in 2019. Gibbons mate for life, and pairs become closely bonded, vocalizing duets in the mornings.
Germany’s Zoo Halle has welcomed an infant silvery gibbon! He was born on February 17 and he’s the first baby for young parents, Mia (10) and Silver (7). Even for very young parents, they are doing an excellent job at raising the little one.
UTICA – The Utica Zoo is excited to announce their female, white-handed gibbon, Snowflake, gave birth to a healthy baby on Monday, January 30. This is an extraordinary circumstance because Snowflake is 35 years old, and her male companion, Yoda is 38 years old.
Members of the animal care and veterinary teams have been monitoring the new mother and baby and have determined that both are in great health. The baby, which is still not named, as well as Snowflake and Yoda will remain off public exhibit to give the family time to bond and continue to care for the baby. The winter weather will also be a factor to determine when the gibbon will be seen out in their habitat. The two-week offspring is still without any fur for protection against the elements.
Recently, Brookfield Zoo’s nearly 10-month-old Asian small-clawed otter pups had access to their habitat along with the white-cheeked gibbons. Last Friday (September 9), one of the pups seemed very inquisitive about the new “neighbors” and went over to investigate. Neubo, an 8-year-old male white-cheeked gibbon, didn’t seem to mind the curious otter. In the past, animal care staff has observed similar interactions with introductions between the two species. For this particular instance, staff is not sure if these encounters will continue or if the novelty will wear off. Guests can see the gibbons and otters in Brookfield Zoo’s Tropic Word: Asia habitat.
Mierlo, September 6, 2022 - A white-cheeked gibbon was born on September 1 in Dierenrijk, a zoo in The Netherlands. The white-cheeked gibbon, found in China, Laos and Vietnam, is a critically endangered monkey species in the wild.
In the wild, this gibbon species is mainly found in the tops of high jungle trees. The greatest threat to these animals is humans. They are widely hunted for food and for the preparation of traditional medicines. In addition, a lot of habitat is disappearing due to the felling of trees and increasing agriculture.
European management program
There is therefore a European management program for this gibbon species. In this way zoos ensure a healthy reserve population. The birth of this gibbon in Dierenrijk also falls under this program. Stephan Rijnen is therefore very happy with this birth: "We are happy to be able to contribute in this way to the preservation of this species."
In addition, Dierenrijk also supports Association Anoulak through the Wildlife Foundation. This organization focuses on biodiversity research, anti-poaching patrols, education and support of the local population. They focus on various plant and animal species in the area, including the white-cheeked gibbon.
Second time
It is the second time that a white-cheeked gibbon has been born in Dierenrijk. Father Eric and mother Kanette became parents of Jaya in 2018. Rijnen says: "Both the parents and Jaya and the newborn young are doing well. With this birth, four white-cheeked gibbons now live in the park."
Flexible singers and singers
Gibbons can almost always be found in the trees and they rarely come to the ground. These animals have long arms and the joints in their shoulders and wrists are very flexible. They can rotate their arms 360 degrees without letting go of a branch. Because they have such long arms and flexible joints, they can swing distances of about three meters between trees. In addition, these monkeys can also walk through the trees. They do this upright with their arms above their heads or to the side to maintain their balance.
“This gibbon species marks their territory by singing. The sound can be heard up to three kilometers away,” says Rijnen. “They also sing to seduce others and to strengthen the bond with each other. In addition, they also let each other know where they are in this way, because in the tropical rainforest they can hear each other better than they can see each other.”
Family groups
The gibbons are born with a light brown coat and after about one year it turns black. The coat color of the females becomes light brown again at the age of five to six years, when they are sexually mature. From this age, the males and females can therefore be distinguished from each other by these color differences. As the name suggests, both the males and females have white cheeks.
This monkey species lives in a group of two to six animals. The group consists of one family: a man, woman and their boy. Gibbons are one of the few monkey species where the male and female remain loyal to each other. These animals can have young all year round and they give birth to one young about every two to three years. The young feed on their mothers until they are about two years old and around the age of four or five they really mature. When they are five or six years old, the gibbons can have young themselves. At that point, they leave their family to start a new group of their own.
Akron Zoo white-cheeked gibbon baby, Lolani, is growing leaps and bounds! She recently turned 4 months old and is starting to explore more and be a little adventurous. Parker, being the good mom that she is, is letting Lolani learn on her own while keeping an eye on her.
Lolani is hitting her milestones right on time, if not early! She has starting eating solid food and soon she'll get to venture outside once the weather warms up consistently. You can visit Lolani and her parents, Parker and Milo, daily!
AKRON, Ohio – The Akron Zoo is holding a naming contest for its new white-cheeked gibbon infant. The contest, presented by Akron Children’s Hospital, runs Wednesday, Jan. 12 – Wednesday, Jan. 26. The public can vote on a name at akronzoo.org/naming-contest.
The five names are gender-neutral as the sex of the baby is unknown at this time. Gibbon infants cling to their mothers for the first few months, and zoo staff is hands-off with the baby. The names choices are Lolani, Keo, Kanoa, Rou and Jinzi.
Parker the Gibbon gave birth at Ohio’s Akron Zoo on Thursday, Dec. 9 at around 9 p.m. White-cheeked gibbons are arboreal, which means that they live high in trees. Gibbons are more likely to give birth high up, and Parker is protecting her baby from the beginning as she catches the infant during the delivery. She immediately begins grooming and cleaning the baby.
Parker is a very attentive and caring mother. She nurses and cuddles her infant while dad, Milo, watches from afar. Parker is very protective of her baby and does not let Milo get too close. Gibbon fathers do play a role in rearing, so this is temporary for our gibbon family!
Parker has established strong bonds with her care team since she arrived here at the Akron Zoo at the end of 2020. While our staff is hands-off with the baby, Parker is willing to show the baby to her keepers and our veterinary staff, who can then take a look at the baby to make sure everything is going well.
After a few days, Parker allows Milo to sit next to her and meet the baby for the first time. He gently reaches out to touch the infant and after begins to groom Parker.
For primate species, grooming is a good indicator of a strong bond. Parker and Milo are often seen grooming each other. When the baby is one week old, Milo grooms the infant for the first time!
Gibbon babies will hold on to their mom from the time of birth. At two days old, Parker brings the baby to show members of her care team while Parker enjoys some food.
Sound on for this video! While Parker is eating, the baby is finding his or her voice and vocalizing before beginning to nurse!
Parker was very excited to show off her baby during their first time in the indoor gibbon habitat.
The fourth silvery gibbon infant in the Czech Republic’s history was born at the Prague Zoo on Saturday night. After a seven-month pregnancy, the baby was born to caring mom Alang Alang, while dad Flip supervises the rest of the family. It is estimated that less than 2,000 adults of this rare primate occur in the wild.