An extremely rare silvery gibbon has been born at the Curraghs Wildlife Park on the Isle of Man.

Silvery gibbons are classed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with as few as 2,000 adults left in the wild, where they are native to the Indonesian island of Java.

It is the third baby born to parents Slamet and Nakula since they arrived at the Park in 2016, as part of an important European breeding programme. The newborn primate’s sex is yet to be determined to allow Slamet time to bond with her presently unnamed baby.

The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria’s (EAZA) Ex situ programmes protect genetically viable populations of endangered species by caring for them in their accredited zoos.

“It’s great to see the family expand and to be able to be privileged enough to see the family dynamics change as they mature,” says Curraghs Wildlife Park, General Manager, Kathleen Graham. “There are just 52 silvery gibbons in the care of nine European zoos, so the birth is very significant. We know how vital EAZA programmes are for conservation efforts and we are very proud to play our part.”

The Curraghs Wildlife Park in Ballaugh is open seven days a week, between 9.30am and 5pm, until the end of October half-term. Entry for groups of 10-plus is £9, and Curraghs Wildlife Park is an accessible attraction. Find out more at https://www.curraghswildlifepark.im/

* Photo Credit: Stephen Corran (PicsByCorraste).