New critically endangered white-cheeked gibbon baby born at Adelaide Zoo
ADELAIDE Zoo welcomed the arrival of a critically endangered white-cheeked gibbon baby at the weekend.
ADELAIDE Zoo has welcomed the arrival of a critically endangered white-cheeked gibbon baby at the weekend.
The three-day old infant, born in the early hours of Saturday morning, is the fourth offspring to parents Viet and Remus.
Clinging on to its mum, the infant’s sex is yet to be determined as keepers have not physically examined the baby in the early days.
But senior primate keeper Jodie Ellen said the zoo might be able to determine the gender in a weeks to month’s time and, when they do, the public would have a chance to name the infant.
“The baby is absolutely adorable and is looking strong and healthy, clinging tightly to Mum, which is important considering they live high up in the treetops of their island home,” Ms Ellen said.
“Older sisters Nhu and Tien are excited by the new addition to the family and will play a very
hands-on role in the upbringing of the new baby.”
The new addition is important to the international breeding program working to save the animal, whose population has declined by at least 80 per cent over the past 45 years.
The primate species is critically endangered in its native Laos, Vietnam and Southern China due to deforestation and poaching.
“Having a new baby is really valuable not just for us but the whole program in Australia,” Ms Ellen said.
The keeper said both mum and the baby were healthy as the mother has started breastfeeding.
White-cheeked gibbons are born a light blond colour before gradually turning black.
Females turn gold again when they reach maturity at around five years of age, while males remain black.
The birth follows a string of primate excitement at Adelaide Zoo, with the recent arrival of a baby hamadryas baboon, golden lion tamarin and the announcement that Karta the Sumatran orang-utan is expecting.