Photos And Video: Meet Lincoln Park Zoo's New White-Cheeked Baby Gibbon

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 26, 2013 9:30PM

The newest addition to Lincoln Park Zoo's coterie of animals is a white-cheeked baby gibbon who was born Aug. 16 to father Caruso and mother Burma, who are recommended to breed by the Gibbon Species Survival Program.

The baby, who has yet to be sexed, joins Caruso, Burma and 3-year-old brother Sai at the zoo. Lincoln Park Zoo Curator of Primates Maureen Leahy said the men are keeping their distance while mother and baby bond.

White-cheeked gibbons are native to Southeast Asia and are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. They have extremely long arms that are perfect for hanging and swinging from branch to branch. At birth the infants are born with golden tan fur like their mothers. They will darken to black during their first two years; males will remain black with signature white cheeks and females will eventually turn tan once more. They're believed to mate for life and remain in family groups until the offspring reach sexual maturity and migrate out on their own.

White-cheeked gibbon mothers are the primary caretakers of their offspring, unlike other ape species who may share the workload associated with an infant.