WHITE-CHEEKED GIBBON
Hylobates leucogenys

Look for me in Laos, Vietnam, and Hunan (in southeast central China).

Seattle weather: Gibbons habitate in forests (tropical rain forests, in particular)

Are you going to eat that? Gibbon's primarily eat fruit, with some tender buds, but will occasionally eat small birds, eggs and insects as well.

Look how cute I am! The gibbons' head and body length reaches 18-24 inches and they have long arms in relation to their body size. Their hands and shoulders reflect the common habit of swinging from branch to branch (brachiation) as a principal mode of locomotion. Sexes are similar in size.

Reproduction: Capable of breeding in 6-8 years, adult pairs usually produce a single offspring every two to three years. Gestation lasts seven to eight months and babies are all born with blonde fur, like the mother. At the end of the first year, all infants turn black (the male's color) and spend the second year with the males. At maturity (between 5 and 8 years), the females once again turn blonde and remain that color for the rest of their lives.

The lifespan of wild gibbons may reach 25 to 35 years (estimate), but comparative data of wild gibbons are not available. The maximum life span of captive gibbons can reach about 48 years.

I'm the boss, need the info: Gibbons usually establish territories through a variety of calls or "songs" often joined in by both partners of a pair. The "singing" also seems to help maintain pair bonding. They characteristically show "suspensory posture" (hanging from branch suspended by both arms frequently while food seeking).

Status: Endangered through most of the range by destruction of rain forest habitats.

*Roger Williams Park Zoo is a participant in the Species Survival Program, a cooperative effort by zoos to manage the population of rare and endangered animals. Read more.

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