World's oldest grey gibbon dies at Winnipeg zoo

Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo has lost one of its oldest and most beloved animals:A 50-year-old grey gibbon named Bobby-Jean.

Sheis believed to have been the world's oldest grey (silver) gibbon.A small ape species, gibbons areconsidered to be endangered. Only about 350 of them exist in the wild, and about 40 live in captivity around the world.

Bobby-Jean died Tuesday of age-related problems.

She spent most of her life in Winnipeg, arriving at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in 1964 with her mate, Billy-Joe, who died several years ago. The pair produced nine surviving offspring, including a daughter, Willow, who lives at the zoo.

Zoo curator Bob Wrigley said the zookeepers who worked with Bobby-Jeanare grief-stricken.

"You can imagine after they've taken care of these animals for 20 or 30 years, they literally become part of their family," he said.

"We're trying to celebrate the life of a wonderful animal that contributed so much to interpretation and just enjoyment of seeing a close relative of people."

More than 20 million people have seen Bobby-Jean at the zoo with her many toys, including an especially prized mirror.

"I was amazed one day to watch Bobby-Jean watching the public with her mirror," said Wrigley.

"She had her back to the public and she was watching people's expressions over her shoulder and I thought, 'My gosh, there's a lot going on in that little head of hers.'"

The gibbon, also called the "lesser ape," is considered very close to humans on a genetic level.They are very family-oriented, Wrigley said, adding that he's sure Willow will feel the loss.

Bobby-Jean's contribution to the world's gibbon population has been significant, zoo officials said. At least 12 of the gibbons at zoos around the world are her descendants.

"Her offspring are now a major part of the captive breeding program, which is so important because they figure that this species of grey gibbon will be extinct in the wild probably within 40 years."

Deforestation and poaching are the major killers of grey gibbons still living in their native Indonesia. Mother grey gibbons are shot from treetops and poachers take the babies as they fall to the ground to sell on the black market as pets, Wrigley said.

No new grey gibbons will be brought in to Winnipeg's zoo until the monkey house is renovated, he said.