Winnipeg zoo brings back playful white-handed gibbons

The white-handed gibbon, a playful ape that was a popular attraction at Assiniboine Park Zoo for many years before the monkey house was decommissioned in 2011, is coming back to Winnipeg.

Maya, a six-year-old female, and Samson, a 15-year-old male, have moved into the zoo's former lion pavilion, which received a complete indoor and outdoor renovation to accommodate the gibbons.

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"We're very excited to welcome gibbons back to our zoo family," said Janice Martin, curator of animal care at the zoo.

"The Assiniboine Park Zoo was home to gibbons for many years and they were always a favourite with our visitors. It's also very special because both of these gibbons have a connection with our zoo."

Maya was born at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in January 2011 and her parents, Mel and Manju, both lived in the city before being transferred to Safari Niagara in 2011 when it was deemed their enclosure was no longer suitable.

The monkey house was temporarily repurposed and eventually decommissioned during construction of the McFeetors Heavy Horse Centre.

Samson was born at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in June 2002 but his father, Chan, was born at Assiniboine Park Zoo in 1992 and lived there for two yearsbefore moving to Edmonton.

White-handed gibbons are small tailless apes with soft, thick fur that can vary from black to a pale fawn colour. They live in trees and are among the fastest of all primates, using their very long arms to swing effortlessly among the branches.

An endangered species due to habitat loss and hunting, white-handed gibbons are found mainly in tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. The forests are being clear cut to meet the demand for palm oil, which is found in many food products, cosmetics, soaps, candlesand even fuel.

In collaboration with the Species Survival Planprogram, the zoo is providing information onwhat people can do to bring change to the palm oil industry through the support of companies that use sustainable palm oil.

The zoo hopes to welcome more gibbons in the future.