Winnipeg zoo welcomes back white-handed gibbons

The white-handed gibbon, a long-armed playful ape that once entertained zoo-goers in Winnipeg, is coming back.

One male and one female gibbon will take over the vacant enclosure of the Asiatic lions, who were shipped this past winter to zoological facilities in England for breeding.

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Theindoor portion of the enclosure is currently being renovated and expected to becompleted in late fall. The gibbons will move in at that time, and spend the winter inside.

The outdoor portion will then be reconstructed with an anticipated spring 2017 opening.

"Assiniboine Park Zoo was home to gibbons for many years, and they were always a favourite with our visitors," said Gary Lunsford, head of zoological operations at the zoo.

The primates were moved out a few years ago after it was deemed their enclosure was unsuitable. The old lion enclosure will give them the space they need to swing.

"We're pleased to have this opportunity to create and maintain a spacious and naturalistic home for this species, and we are very happy to be welcoming them back to our zoo family,"Lunsford said.

An endangered species, white-handed gibbons are small, arboreal apes found mainly in tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia.

The zoo hopes to welcome more gibbons in the future.