PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Philadelphia Zoo welcomed a particular new addition this month: a child white-handed gibbon, a kind of ape native to Southeast Asia
The zoo workforce named the infant Eros after the asteroid that orbits Mars.
Eros, born within the PECO Primate Reserve simply earlier than zookeepers arrived on March 14, is seen to friends, the zoo stated in an announcement.
Philadelphia Zoo
The child, born to 35-year-old mother Phoenice (pronounced fuh-NIECE) and 34-year-old dad Mercury, has two older siblings on the Philadelphia Zoo: 5-year-old brother Polaris and 2-year outdated sister Ophelia, in accordance with the zoo.
“Philadelphia Zoo is proud to have such a powerful historical past with breeding this endangered ape,” stated Michael Stern, the Andrew J. Baker Curator of Primates and Small Mammals on the zoo, within the assertion. “Mother and pop have confirmed to be nice mother and father through the years, and we will not wait till the infant is slightly older and our friends can watch him taking part in with massive brother and sister.”
White-handed gibbon infants are born after a seven-month gestation and cling to mother’s stomach for the primary few months of life. They continue to be depending on their moms till weaned round 2 years outdated.
Philadelphia Zoo
Phoenice is “demonstrating all the appropriate behaviors caring for” her child, zookeepers stated within the assertion.
Phoenice and Mercury have three different youngsters, one on the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio and two at Level Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington. Gibbons are monogamous and sometimes stay collectively for all times.
Philadelphia Zoo
What’s a white-handed gibbon?
A white-handed gibbon is an endangered ape species native to Southeast Asia. They’re native to Southeast Asia, together with southern China, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Sumatra.
White-handed gibbons are listed as endangered by the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature.
White-handed gibbons are thought-about to be one of the crucial acrobatic animals on the planet, in accordance with the zoo.
A video posted by the Philadelphia Zoo for Ophelia’s first birthday reveals her swinging by her lengthy arms.
White-handed gibbon child Ophelia turns 1! 🥳💕
HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY to our white-handed gibbon, Ophelia! 🥳💕 Simply have a look at her go! Keepers say Ophelia has been exploring on her personal away from mother Phoenice. As you’ll be able to see, she’s a professional at swinging and might do the signature gibbon run along with her arms over her head for stability. She additionally wrestles and performs along with her older brother, Polaris.💙
Posted by Philadelphia Zoo on Saturday, Might 21, 2022
They transfer via the timber by brachiation, swinging hand over hand with the physique suspended beneath. They’ve proportionally longer arms than every other ape. Arm span exceeds the entire size of its physique and legs.
Within the wild, these animals eat principally fruit however often eat bugs and leaves as properly. On the zoo, they eat formulated primate chow and all kinds of fruits, greens and leafy greens.
Eros’ start is part of the Affiliation of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan breeding program to make sure the survival of this species and preserve a genetically numerous inhabitants, in accordance with the zoo.
