Utica Zoo welcomes baby gibbon: Why the birth is an 'extraordinary circumstance'

The Utica Zoo has announced the birth of a white-handed gibbon baby.

Zoo officials said the birth is an “extraordinary circumstance” because of the gibbon's parents' ages: Snowflake, the mother, is 35, and her male companion, Yoda, is 38.

The baby gibbon, a boy, was born Monday, Jan. 30, zoo officials said.

“Members of the animal care and veterinary teams have been monitoring the new mother and baby and have determined that both are in great health,” the zoo said. “The baby, which is still not named, as well as Snowflake and Yoda will remain off public exhibit to give the family time to bond and continue to care for the baby.”

Zoo officials said winter weather would play a factor in when the gibbons are put back into their habitat. The baby gibbon is still without fur to protect it from the elements, officials said.

This is the third time Snowflake and Yoda became parents while at the Utica Zoo. Their last birth was 23 years ago to female Malay who now resides at Zoo Knoxville.

‘Extraordinary circumstance’

The zoo is authorized from the Gibbon, Lar (White-Handed) Species Survival Program for the two gibbons to breed, but due to their age it was not anticipated that they would be successful, officials said.

“It’s our understanding that it is very rare for gibbons under human care and with their advanced age to successfully breed,” Andria Heath, Utica Zoo executive director said in a statement “We strongly believe this was a result of the excellent care the gibbons receive on a daily basis from our animal care and veterinary team, as well as a testament to the significant improvements that were made on their habitat in 2018 as part of the ‘We Don’t Like It Either’ Campaign.”

White-handed gibbons are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. This is due, in part, to the flourishing illegal pet trade in Thailand in which they are hunted, captured, traded, and exploited, the Utica Zoo said.

The deforestation of their forest habitat is also a threat and is becoming more of a problem.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica Zoo welcomes baby gibbon: Why the birth is 'extraordinary'