The all-singing 'kings of the swingers' arrive at Bristol Zoo

PHOTO CALL

November 28, 2007

The all-singing ‘kings of the swingers’ arrive at Bristol Zoo.

What: Bristol Zoo’s new pair of agile gibbons.

Where: Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA

When: Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Time: 9am

Visitors to Bristol Zoo Gardens should keep their eyes and ears peeled for a pair of gibbons who are making themselves at home and getting to know each other.

The two new agile gibbons (Hylobates agilis), called Samuel and Duana, are settling into their new life together on the zoo’s state-of-the-art, custom-built gibbon island, next to the lake.

Their new home resembles an over-sized adventure playground and presents an array of climbing and swinging opportunities to replicate their natural environment.

Duana, a seven-year-old female gibbon was the first to arrive at her new home from Fota Wildlife Park in Cork, Ireland and has recently been joined by Samuel, an 11-year-old male from Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire.

Agile gibbons have been referred to as the ‘kings of the swingers’, mainly due to their long arms which allow them to swing from through trees, covering distances of up to 10 metres from branch to branch.

Although the gibbons will be cohabiting on their island, keepers at Bristol Zoo Gardens are not expecting the pitter-patter of tiny feet just yet. Mel Gage, head of primates at Bristol Zoo Gardens explains: “We are thrilled to have a pair of agile gibbons and they are a great addition to the Zoo. We hope they will become part of a managed European breeding programme which will be managed by Bristol Zoo.”

As well as the kings of the swingers, agile gibbons are also the kings of the singers - they are renowned for their early morning ‘duets’, led by the female, which are used to announce location, defend territory, and to develop pair bonds. Zoo visitors should aim to arrive early in the morning to hear this spectacular vocal diplay.

The gibbons all-singing, all-swinging display should prove to be a great hit with visitors to Bristol Zoo.

ENDS

For more information contact Bristol Zoo Press Office:

Lucy Parkinson, T : 0117 974 7306, or email: lparkinson [at] bristolzoo [dot] org [dot] uk
Rebecca Sawtell, T: 0117 974 7389, email: rsawtell [at] bristolzoo [dot] org [dot] uk