A new arrival at the Magnetic Hill Zoo after the birth of a baby white-handed gibbon in February.
Zoo Director Jill Marvin says visitors will be able to see him with his mom when the weather is good, “We’re encouraging people to come out and learn about white-handed gibbons. Unfortunately, this is an endangered species that suffers from anything from habitat loss to poaching. Their main predators would be snakes or leopards. We encourage everyone to think of ways to reduce their carbon footprint or reuse items so that we are not seeking out more of their habitat as these are protected species.”
The Zoo currently has Rudee and K’nook, a pair of white-handed gibbons, and brother Lek. The new baby is their third offspring.
Marvin adds they are also looking for help this week to name the new gibbon. There are three names to choose from, Chai, Milo or Moe.
Voting can be done online until May 15th.
Zoo visitors can get a glimpse of the new addition when the weather is good, “Mom may have him tucked in if it is cold, but it is pretty easy to have a look at him. Gibbons do have a social dynamic that is very similar in some ways to humans so it is a family group. So dad is with him as well as his brother Lek,” Marvin says.
