Remarkable delivery of handless gibbon in Sarthe region
In a significant victory for conservation efforts, a rare white-handed gibbon was born at Spy Zoo in Sarthe, France, on July 24, 2025. This birth marks the first in ten years at the zoo and is a rare and happy event for the endangered species.
The white-handed gibbon, scientifically known as Hylobates lar, is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to threats like habitat loss, hunting for bushmeat, and the illegal pet trade.
Zoos like Spy Zoo play a crucial role in preserving the species through breeding recommendations and Species Survival Plans aimed at improving the species' survival prospects through managed breeding and education. These efforts are essential given the species' fragmented wild populations and ongoing threats in their native Southeast Asian habitats.
The baby gibbon, yet to be named, is the first child of the couple formed by Fiji and Pepito. Fiji, described as a good mother, albeit sometimes clumsy, has been taking excellent care of the baby. Pepito, the father, is very gentle with the baby.
The baby gibbon will remain attached to its mother's belly until the age of three or four months. Its sex will be determined in a few months when it starts to detach. The baby will then be weaned at the age of two.
The Spy Zoo has also seen the birth of several other animals this year, including four capybaras, a small mongoose, five Bennett's wallabies, and a miniature zebu. Additionally, the zoo welcomed a Solomon Islands skink, three African marabouts, two gray pelicans, and seven catta makis.
This birth is the only recorded birth of a white-handed gibbon in France in 2025. The white-handed gibbon is listed as endangered due to deforestation and poaching in Indonesia and Malaysia. Conservation initiatives involve captive breeding programs and habitat protection to preserve genetic diversity and support population recovery.
In regions like Malaysia, dedicated ranger units including Indigenous women work to protect gibbons against poaching and habitat destruction. These combined in situ (wild) and ex situ (captive) programs play important roles in the ongoing preservation of the white-handed gibbon.
The Spy Zoo's breeding initiatives are significant, aiming to improve the lifestyle of white-handed gibbons, a species classified as Endangered due to threats like habitat loss, hunting for bushmeat, and the illegal pet trade, as evidenced by the ongoing conservation efforts in both home-and-garden settings like zoos and in their native Southeast Asian habitats. With the birth of a baby gibbon, the zoo has made a valuable contribution to preserving the species and ensuring its continued existence in the future.
