Philadelphia Zoo Makes a Sweet and Exciting Baby Announcement
It's a happy day at the Philadelphia Zoo in Pennsylvania. Officials announced that they have a new addition to their zoo family — a sweet little baby gibbon.
The good news was shared on the Philadelphia Zoo's Instagram account.
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The zoo made the announcement with a video of the new little one — Eros.
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"We are SO excited to introduce you to Eros, the newest member of our white-handed gibbon family," the caption reads. "This little boy, born just before keepers arrived on March 14, is healthy and continues to nurse from mom who’s showing all the right behaviors caring for him. You can see him and his entire family at PECO Primate Reserve."
In the footage, the gibbon can be seen nursing from its mama and having a cuddle. Don't worry, little one. Mom will always be around to make sure you're safe.
All About Gibbons
You might not be familiar with gibbons, but there's no time like the present to dig in to these adorable primates. As the Philadelphia Zoo noted, "White-handed gibbons are found in Southeast Asia and are considered to be one of the most acrobatic animals on the planet!"
Gibbons are distinguishable from other primates because of their lack of tail and long, thick fur. They are also very social animals that can form life-long bonds and mate for life, unlike other primates.
Another fun fact about these cute little guys? Gibbons are born with a throat sac called a symphalangus syndactyly, which allows them to modulate their vocalizations — aka, they can sing. Gibbons start their day singing and throughout the day can be heard singing both alone and with their families.
In Chinese culture, gibbons are a symbol of good fortune. In Doaist lore, gibbons are considered a "superior life spirit" and are believed to be noble wanderers and poets with an elevated spirit of solitude.
Sadly, gibbons are teetering on the verge of becoming an endangered species. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they range from being vulnerable to being critical endangered, depending on the species.
White-handed gibbons like Eros are unfortunately categorized as being endangered. In their post, the Philadelphia Zoo explained that Eros' birth was "part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding program to ensure the survival of this species and maintain a genetically diverse population."
Which probably makes Eros' birth important to a lot of people. Welcome to the world, little one! You're so very much wanted.
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