Akron Zoo announces name of endangered white-cheeked gibbon baby
Akron Zoo announces name of endangered white-cheeked gibbon baby
Following a public naming contest, the baby gibbon is named Leuco, which zoo officials explain is from the white-cheeked gibbon's scientific name, Nomascus leucogenys.
So how did the public naming contest work?
"The public voted for their favorite name out of a selection of five names. The top two names, Leuco and Coda, were presented to the gibbon family on enrichment on Thursday morning. The item with Leuco on it was touched first, making it the final name selection," the zoo explained.
Leuco was born on June 27 to the zoo's adult female gibbon, Parker, and its male gibbon, Milo. The pair previously welcomed a female named Lolani in December of 2021. Zoo officials say Lolani still resides in Akron and will remain with 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," the zoo stated.
Zoo officials say "Parker continues to be an amazing mother and Leuco is doing well." The gibbon family of four remains on habitat daily.
According to the Akron Zoo, white-cheeked gibbons are "a lesser ape species that are native to Southeast Asia. The species is listed as critically endangered by 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."
Watch how the gibbon family made the final choice of Leuco for the baby's name below:
