Unfortunately, five days after birth the gibbon mother rejected the baby. This is a natural occurrence both in the wild and in captivity. Zoo Boise’s gibbon baby is now being hand-raised by the zoo’s Animal Care Staff.
For the first month of its life, the baby is essentially in intensive care and is easily susceptible to human diseases. Because of its fragile condition, the baby will not be on display to the general public for several months. “Zoo Boise wishes to thank everyone for their understanding to help ensure the animal’s health,” says Zoo Director Steve Burns. Photographs taken by Monte Stiles are available on the Zoo Boise website at www.cityofboise.org/parks/zoo.
The baby gibbon is being kept in an isolette unit similar to those used for premature babies. The isolette was obtained by the St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center from the Oregon Zoo. St. Alphonsus CEO Sandra Bruce and her staff made it their personal mission to help Zoo Boise ensure the animal’s health. “We are so pleased to be able to assist Zoo Boise in locating an isolette from another Zoo,” said Linda Payne Smith, executive director of the St. Alphonsus Foundation. “A special thanks to Cheryl Seal in purchasing who spearheaded this effort. All of us at Saint Alphonsus wish this new addition to the community and Zoo Boise a speedy recovery.”
Gibbons are found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. They are arboreal, which means they spend almost all of their time in the trees. Like many primate species around the world, gibbons are rapidly approaching extinction, which is caused by habitat destruction and poaching of the animals.
Because gibbons -- like many primate species around the world -- are rapidly approaching extinction, the gibbons at Zoo Boise are part of a Species Survival Plan (SSP). As part of the SSP, Zoo Boise works with other zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help ensure there is a healthy population of animals in captivity that could serve as a source of animals should reintroduction ever be necessary. Other SSP animals at Zoo Boise include the Amur tigers, Amur leopards, Andean condors, ocelots, red pandas, Grevy’s zebra, sloth bear and snow leopards.
The new gibbon -- along with all the other animals at Zoo Boise -- help Zoo Boise achieve its conservation mission, says Burns. “Seeing animals up-close and in person helps foster a greater appreciation of animals in a unique educational setting.”
Zoo Boise’s most ambitious project is the “Out of Africa, Into Zoo Boise” capital campaign, which will build an African Plains exhibit featuring giraffes, lions, zebras, lemurs, rock hyrax and weaver birds. “This exhibit will provide even greater opportunities to learn about animals and contribute to their protection,” said Burns. More information about the new exhibit is available at www.zooboise.ocm.
Zoo Boise is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, a national organization that supports excellence in animal care, conservation, education and science.
Located in Julia Davis Park, Zoo Boise is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily year round. For more information, see www.cityofboise.org/parks/zoo. Or call 384-4125.