The Philadelphia Zoo is chirping with excitement over its latest resident, a newborn white-handed gibbon named Eros. Welcomed into the world on March 14, the endangered ape boasts a space-themed moniker as a nod to the asteroid that orbits Mars. Eros makes his entrance into a seasoned family with 35-year-old mom Phoenice and 34-year-old dad Mercury at the helm, and two playful siblings, Polaris and Ophelia, eager to climb and swing with their new brother.
With three other offspring already placed in other zoos, Phoenice and Mercury's brood is making a mark across the country. According to WFLA, one reside at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the other two at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington. Michael Stern, the Andrew J. Baker Curator of Primates and Small Mammals at Philadelphia Zoo, shared, "Philadelphia Zoo is proud to have such a strong history with breeding this endangered ape. Mom and dad have proven to be great parents over the years, and we can’t wait until the baby is a little older and our guests can watch him playing with big brother and sister."
These arboreal acrobats, known for their brachiation skills that have them swinging gracefully from tree to tree, are native to Southeast Asia. Their habitat spans across several countries, including southern China, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Sumatra. The Philadelphia Zoo provides a unique opportunity to observe these agile creatures in an environment that mirrors their wild counterparts, with spacious exhibits like the PECO Primate Reserve.
The interesting factoids about white-handed gibbons are almost as abundant as their aerial skills. They boast impressively long arms, which can surpass the length of their bodies and legs, lending to their nimble canopy navigation. In their natural diet, ripe fruit takes the center stage, with leaves, and insects also on the menu. Within the confines of the zoo, these apes get a balanced diet of primate chow and assorted fresh produce, as per the Zoo's information. Like other apes, such as gorillas and orangutans, they are smart, tailless, and slow to develop and breed compared to monkeys.
Gibbons, by nature, live in small family groups with a breeding pair that often mates for life, and the latest birth at the Philadelphia Zoo is a heartwarming glimpse into the family-oriented world of these endearing apes. As documented by 6ABC, this little guy's tale is already swinging high on the cuteness scale and gives conservationists another reason to continue their fight for these endangered creatures.
