A white-cheeked gibbon was born Friday at 4:20 p.m. at the Akron Zoo to Parker, the zoo’s adult female gibbon.

The zoo’s entire gibbon family will be able to access the public indoor day room daily for guests to possibly get a glimpse of the new baby.

The baby is doing well, according to a news release from the zoo, but its sex is still undetermined. Infant gibbons hold on to their mothers from the time of birth, and Parker has “proven to be an excellent mother.” 

This is the second baby for Parker and the zoo’s male gibbon, Milo. The pair previously welcomed a female, Lolani, back in December 2021. Lolani still lives at the Akron Zoo and will remain part of the gibbon family. 

Being an older sister is an important milestone for female gibbons, as it helps them develop skills to be a mother themselves.

Parker, a female white-cheeked gibbon at the Akron Zoo, holds her half-hour-old baby that born Friday at 4:20 p.m. The zoo’s entire gibbon family will be able to access the public indoor day room daily for guests to possibly get a glimpse of the new baby, which is doing well.
Parker, the adult female white-cheeked gibbon at the Akron Zoo, stretches her long arm as she holds her half-hour-old baby, who was born June 27 at 4:20 p.m. The zoo’s entire gibbon family will be able to access the public indoor day room daily for guests to possibly get a glimpse of the new baby, which is doing well, according to a news release from the zoo. (Photo courtesy of the Akron Zoo)

Native white-cheeked gibbon populations have decreased dramatically

White-cheeked gibbons are a lesser ape species and are native to Southeast Asia. The species is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, mainly from deforestation to create palm oil plantations. 

The native population of white-cheeked gibbons has decreased about 80% in the last 50 years. 

The Akron Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participates in the Gibbon Species Survival Plan (SSP), a scientifically managed breeding program that works to ensure a healthy, genetically diverse population of white-cheeked gibbons.

The zoo also plays a leadership role in AZA’s Gibbon Saving Animals From Extinction program. Brenna Erjavec, the zoo’s occupational health and safety manager, serves as the co-chair. 

SAFE focuses the combined expertise of AZA zoos to help save gibbons.

The zoo plans to announce a naming contest at a later time.

Parker, the adult female white-cheeked gibbon at the Akron Zoo, holds her new baby that was born June 27 at 4:20 p.m. The zoo’s entire gibbon family will be able to access the public indoor day room daily for guests to possibly get a glimpse of the new baby, which is doing well, according to a news release from the zoo.
Parker, the adult female white-cheeked gibbon at the Akron Zoo, holds her new baby, whot was born June 27 at 4:20 p.m. The zoo’s entire gibbon family will be able to access the public indoor day room daily for guests to possibly get a glimpse of the new baby, which is doing well, according to a news release from the zoo. (Photo courtesy of the Akron Zoo)

How to go

The Akron Zoo is open 361 days a year at 500 Edgewood Ave. in the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood. Current hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $11 to $21. Children under two are free, and parking is free. For more information, visit www.akronzoo.org or call 330-375-2550.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.