Lar gibbons move onto Gibbon Island

The Zoo is happy to announce that Lar gibbons (Hylobates lar) have moved onto Gibbon Island. This exhibit that was previously home to a family of siamangs is now home to a male Lar gibbon by the name of Thai and his female companion Lucy.

Also called white-handed gibbons, these primates help to preserve the biodiversity of the rainforest by dispersing the seeds of the fruits they eat through their droppings.

Lar gibbons are endangered. They live in lowland evergreen, semi-evergreen, and mixed evergreen-deciduous forests across Southeast Asia. Over the past 50 years the wild population has decreased by 50%.     Major threats to their survival include hunting, habitat loss and the pet trade. 

Lar gibbons are omnivores feeding primarily on fruits, especially figs. They also eat leaves, buds, flowers, young shoots, and occasionally insects. 

Photos
Cover and bottom – Discover Corp, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Feature – tilliechurnsidex, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Top – Tony Hisgett, Wikimedia Creative Commons