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Did You Know?
Some white-handed gibbons have black fur, while others are a lighter color, ranging from blond to brown or reddish. This fur color is inherited at least somewhat like human eye color. Genes for dark color are dominant to genes for light color. So if a baby gibbon inherits genes for dark color from one parent and for light color from the other, he or she will be dark. To have light fur, the baby must inherit genes for light color from both parents.
Viewing Hints
Look for the gibbons sharing space with our Sumatran orangutans.
Particularly if you're at the Zoo early, and during the summer when the gibbons are outside most of the time, you may be lucky enough to hear the gibbons duetting, a loud and beautiful series of calls in which the male and female each have their own unique part. In the wild, this call probably serves to advertise that the territory is occupied by a bonded pair of gibbons.
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White-handed gibbon
Hylobates lar
| Size |
Typical combined head and body lengfth for the white-handed gibbon is 17-24 inches in length. Males and females are about the same size. Gibbons have arms that are proportionately longer (as compared to body size) than those of any other primate. |
| Weight |
White-handed gibbons typically weigh between 7 and 15 pounds, although well-fed zoo individuals may be somewhat heavier, up to 17 pounds or more. Males and females are the same size. |
| Conservation Status |
On the 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the white-handed gibbon is listed as Near Threatened. |
| Diet |
In the wild, ripe fruit makes up most of the diet. They also eat leaves and insects. In the Zoo, they eat scientifically-formulated primate chow and a wide variety of fresh produce. |
| Geographic Range |
The white-handed gibbon can be found in parts of southeast Asia, including regions, of southern China, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), Laos, the Malay Peninsula, and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. |
| Where to find me in the Zoo |
PECO Primate Reserve. The gibbons live with our Sumatran orangutans. |
Note: Description below should include Longevity, Behavior, and Reproduction information
White-handed gibbons are found in tropical forests over a broad area in southeast Asia, including sections of southern China, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. They occur in two basic color forms. Some are all black, with white hands (thus the common name) and feet, and a ring of white fur around the bare black face. Others are a lighter color, varying from blond to brownish or reddish. On these lighter individuals, the light fur on the hands and feet and around the face does not contrast as strongly with the rest of the fur, so is not as obvious. Find out more in "Did You Know" about the genetic basis for these color differences.
Longevity
In zoos, a few white-handed gibbons live into their early 40's, but a more typical lifespan is about 20. Just like any other animal, "natural" lifespan for white-handed gibbons varies widely, and most individuals don't reach the maximum age. Typical lifespan in the wild is not known.
Behavior
Gibbons live in small family groups, usually containing one breeding pair, plus one to a few offspring. Each family groups lives in a defined area, which can be as large as 120 acres. They defend at least part of this area from neighboring gibbon groups, displaying at or chasing their rivals, but physical fights are rare.
Gibbon pairs engage in loud and beautiful "songs", with the male and female each having a distinct part in the "duet". These and other loud calls probably serve to advertise that the area is already occupied by a bonded pair.
Like other gibbons, white-handed gibbons move through the trees by brachiation - swinging hand over hand with the body suspended below. When on the ground, they walk and run upright on their hind legs, with arms held high for balance. They live almost entirely in the upper canopy of the forest and are among the most acrobatic of all animals.
Reproduction
Mothers give birth to a single offspring after a pregnancy of about 7 months.
White-handed gibbons, like other gibbons, are typically monogamous, with one breeding pair per group. However, recent research on wild white-handed gibbons suggests that there are some variations from monogamy. Some groups appear to contain two adult males. In other cases, adults have been seen to mate with neighbors as well as with pair-mates. Additional research is needed to understand the range of social structure in wild gibbons.
Mercury: Black male, born April 13, 1990 at Dickerson Park Zoo. He arrived at the Zoo on April 28, 1999.
Solstice: Blond female, born June 22, 1984 at Yerkes Regional Primate Center. She arrived at the Zoo on April 30, 1999.
Enrichment
Adoption Information
Featured Foster Parent
Sources:
1) Philadelphia Zoo staff; 2) Sommer, V. & Reichard, U. (2000). "Rethinking Monogamy: The Gibbon Case", in P. Kappeler, ed.; Primate Males. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 159-168. 3) Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 4) Website for the Gibbon Research Lab: http://www.gibbons.de; 5) Roonwal, M. and Mohnot, S.M, 1977. Primates of South Asia: Ecology. Sociology, and Behavior. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.; 6) IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 January 2008.
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