Little Lar Gibbon Born at Fota Wildlife Park

Photo by Neil Danton Photography - http://www.neildanton.eu

Fota Wildlife Park are delighted with the latest birth at the park, a little Lar Gibbon who was born at the end of June and can now be seen by the public with its mother Namphon out on their newly refurbished island .

The lar gibbon, also known as the white-handed gibbon, lives in pairs in tree top territories in evergreen rainforests on the islands and mainland of Southeast Asia. The latest arrival which is yet to be named as the sex has to be determined brings the number of Lar Gibbons at Fota Wildlife Park to four.

Speaking about the new arrival the park’s head of primates Theresa Power added “we are delighted with the birth of the Lar Gibbon and it comes at a good time, as their island was recently refurbished thanks to the proceeds raised from the Cheetah Run 4 mile road race”. The race which was organised by Eagle AC attracted 634 runners and enabled the park to renovate the island with a complete new structure.

The little Lar Gibbon which was born on the 23^rd of June to mother Nomphon and father George also has an older sister Noi.  The unusal names are Vietnamese origin according to Theresa, “Nomphon the mother was hand reared by a keeper from Vietnam at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire who visits the park once a year and she also named Noi when she was born in 2007.

Gibbons are members of the ape family and share some features with the Gorilla and Chimpanzees such as a large brain, no tail, broad chest and upright structure. The Lar Gibbons can also move faster, more quietly, and farther than any other forest ape or monkey.

The birth of the Lar Gibbon is another good news story from the park situated on Fota Island in East Cork. Fota Wildlife Park recently announced that their figures for the first half of 2010 were up 7% on 2009.

The park has lined up a weekend of events and activities for the August Bank Holiday including African Drumming, Birds of Prey Show, Face Painting, Wildlife Talks plus the start of Tree Week. To celebrate Tree Week, Fota Wildlife Park will accept €7.50 off the total admission charge for 2 adults based on their normal adult rate of €13.50 or Family Ticket €56 (2 adults + 4 kids) when you produce a same day purchased rail ticket to Fota Station.

• Lar Gibbons are members of the ape family. They are lesser apes.
• They share some features with the great apes (Man, gorilla, chimpanzees) including:

1. large brain
2. flat face
3. shortened jaws
4. upright posture
5. broad chest
6. no tail
7. ischial callosities (thicken skin on rump)
8. 360 degree wrist rotation

• The Lar Gibbon features include:

1. small rounded head
2. arms longer than legs
3. lightweight bones
4. arboreal
5. brachiation (swinging motion through trees)
6. bipedalism (stands on 2 legs, not 4)

• They are the fastest and most agile of all tree-dwelling, non-flying mammals.
• Lar Gibbons generally live in Southeast Asia – Burma, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Sumatra, Thailand and are found in rainforests.
• The Lar Gibbons Cannot swim but they can leap from branch to branch – up to 9 metres in a single jump
• Fota Wildlife Park is now Cork’s number 1 visitor attraction, having jumped ahead of Blarney Castle for the first time in its history. The jump in visitor numbers at the park has been put down to a number of factors including a very popular events calendar, animals births at the park and the baby boom in Ireland which saw an increase of 19% in the number of under 3’s visiting the park in 2009.