Port Lympne Reserve in Hythe has announced the birth of an endangered Javan gibbon.<\/p>\n
Baby Lima, born on Valentine’s Day, is now one of five siblings, cared for by his mother, Belle, and father, Gapak.<\/p>\n
Simon Jeffery, animal director at Port Lympne Reserve said the reserve was “incredibly proud” to welcome Lima.<\/p>\n
“As a critically important species within the Eaza (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) programme, Javan gibbons are central to our conservation mission,” Jefferey said, “and Lima represents a significant and exciting step forward for our breeding efforts”.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1992, Eaza is the world’s largest regional zoo and aquarium organisation focused on animal species conservation.<\/p>\n
Port Lympne Reserve manages the Eaza off-site breeding programme for Javan gibbons, in which nine gibbons have been born so far.<\/p>\n
Three have already left the reserve for a new life in the wild as part of the reserve’s ongoing commitment to return captive-born animals to carefully selected areas of protected wilderness.<\/p>\n
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