An Endangered Baby Agile Gibbon Born at Fota Wildlife Park
An endangered baby agile gibbon has recently been welcomed at Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, making it a delightful addition to the park’s diverse wildlife population.
Meet the Parents: Conor and Chloe
The proud parents of the baby gibbon are Conor and Chloe. Conor, born in 1989, is one of the oldest primate residents at the park, while Chloe joined the world eleven years later. The pair has a successful breeding history.
The Importance of Endangered Species Conservation
Lead Ranger Teresa Power expressed the park’s joy in announcing the birth of endangered animals on-site. She highlighted the decreasing population of agile gibbons in the wild and the threats they face from habitat loss and illegal pet trade.
These births not only captivate the public’s interest but also serve as a platform to raise awareness about endangered species and the conservation programs at Fota Wildlife Park.
The New Arrival
The baby agile gibbon is thriving under the care of its experienced mother, Chloe. The team has observed the baby feeding and interacting with its surroundings, including its older sibling, Beamish, born in 2021.
While the gender of the baby gibbon is yet to be determined, the public is invited to participate in naming the newest addition through a blog contest, with a chance to win a Conservation Annual Pass.
About the Agile Gibbon
The agile gibbon, known for its acrobatic climbing abilities, is one of the smaller apes with a color variation ranging from black to reddish-brown. Male agile gibbons can be distinguished by their white or light-grey cheek fur, while both genders have white eyebrows and are tailless.
These gibbons have been part of Fota Wildlife Park since the 1990s and are housed on an island within the Asian Sanctuary. Fota Wildlife Park has been fortunate to witness several agile gibbon births from Conor and Chloe, contributing to the species’ conservation efforts.