Watch: Fota Wildlife announces new arrival with adorable video of baby gibbon

Congratulations to mum Chloe and dad Conor on their new arrival

Meet the newborn endangered baby agile gibbon born to mum Chloe and dad Conor at Fota Wildlife Park. Pictures: Darragh Kane

There's a new addition to the clan on the island in Fota Wildlife Park's Asian Sanctuary... a baby agile gibbon. 

It's cute and fluffy, with the most gorgeous bright eyes — and this newborn is extra special as agile gibbons are classified as endangered.

Dad, Conor, who was born in 1989, is one of the oldest primate residents at Fota Wildlife Park. 

Mum, Chloe, who was born in 2000 has successfully bred with Conor in the past.

Mother Chloe, who was born in 2000, with her newborn

Lead Ranger Tersa Power said: “We are delighted to announce the birth of any endangered animals, and the number of agile gibbons in the wild continues to decrease. Over the past five decades, their native environments have shrunk by half, and they face additional threats from hunters who exploit them for the illicit exotic pet market. 

"For Fota Wildlife Park, these births capture the public’s interest and it helps us raise awareness about the plight of the many species that reside here and the endangered breeding programmes we participate in."

The baby agile gibbon which needs a name

The baby seems to be doing great, the team have observed him or her feeding from mum "who is a very experienced and dedicated mother". This newborn has a big brother Beamish, born in 2021.

While it's too soon to determine the gender of the latest addition, Fota is calling on the public to help choose the name and to be in with a chance to win a Conservation Annual Pass.

One of the smaller apes of its kind, the agile gibbon varies in colour between black and reddish-brown. The male is distinguishable from his female counterpart by the white or light-grey cheek fur on his face; both have white eyebrows and, like all gibbons, are tailless. As its name suggests, the agile gibbon is one of the fastest and most acrobatic climbers in the forest.

This newborn agile gibbon has an older brother, Beamish, who was born in 2021

Agile gibbons have been resident at Fota since the 1990s and are located on an island in the Asian Sanctuary. 

Fota Wildlife Park is open daily from 9.30am. This Easter there will be daily feeding times, wildlife talks, and a fun Easter egg trail and quiz running for the mid-term break.