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Baby gibbon born at Toledo Zoo on Nov. 30 is now viewable for the public
Dec. 16, 2104: A female gibbon was born on Nov. 30 at the Toledo Zoo. Animal-care staff is allowing the mother and baby to bond without human intervention.
This is the fourth offspring for mother Hue and father Batu. Hue is providing acceptable maternal care, which is good news because gibbons are thought to have a higher incidence of maternal neglect than other primate species.
Mother and baby are easy to spot because both are cream-colored, while most of the Zoo’s other gibbons are black. Baby gibbons are born a cream color, darkening as they mature. Males stay black their whole lives, but females, when they reach maturity, change back to a cream color.
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Photo Courtesy Katie Clifton
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The new family is scheduled to be on exhibit during daytime hours, indoors at Primate Forest. However, public viewing during these times may be irregular depending on the animals’ needs.
This baby gibbon’s arrival is more than great news for the Zoo; it’s important for the
preservation of this species, which is critically endangered and faces extinction. In southeast Asia -- where gibbons spend all their lives in the trees of tropical rainforests -- deforestation, hunting and poaching threaten their survival. The species’ population numbers continue to decline.
As part of the ongoing efforts to preserve the species, the Toledo Zoo participates in a Species Survival Plan (SSP) in conjunction with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Through this cooperative breeding and conservation program, the Zoo works with other zoos around the country to help ensure a future for many species, including the gibbon.
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