In a first, western hoolock gibbon born at Delhi zoo

NEW DELHI: Delhi zoo finally has something to cheer about after a series of bird deaths, which led to it being shut down in October. For the first time ever, a western hoolock gibbon has been born inside the zoo after almost two years of them acquiring a pair. With the species endangered in India, experts said breeding them in captivity is extremely difficult as they are choosy about their partners. Zoo officials are also hopeful it can become a star attraction once they re-open.“It is a great achievement as these gibbons rarely breed in captivity. We also saw the birth of a lion-tailed macaque recently and intense care is being given to both the mother and the young child,“ said Riyaz Khan, Delhi zoo curator. The western hoolock gibbon is currently endangered in India and found primarily in tropical and sub-tropical forests in northeast India. Populations of the primate have declined by almost 90% in the last three decades.According to zoo authorities, both the male and female western hoolock gibbons were acquired in 2014 within months of each other. The male gibbon was brought from Itanagar zoo, while the female was brought from Aizawl zoo. “The operation took close to 12 hours and now they have been kept inside the zoo hospital,“ said Abhijit Bhawal, zoo veterinarian.