Welcome to Perth Zoo

Infants are blonde so that they can first camouflage against their mother, then they darken to camouflage in the forest.

Description: Male and female White-cheeked Gibbons have different coloured hair. The male’s body is covered with black hair, with white cheeks and a black crest on its head. The female is a golden colour with a black face and no crest. Babies have a blonde coat that turns black over the first two years of life. When they reach sexual maturity, the males stay black but the females change back to the golden colour.

Diet: White-cheeked Gibbons are omnivores and spend most of their time looking for fruit in the canopy. However, they also eat leaves, flowers and insects. In the wild: Very little is known about White-cheeked Gibbons. They very rarely come down to the ground, preferring to spend most of their time in the forest canopy. They are excellent brachiators (using their arms to swing from tree to tree) and move quickly through the trees. When they walk on their hindlegs across branches, they hold their arms above their heads for balance.

Threats: Habitat destruction across their home range of Vietnam and Laos is a major threat to these animals. They are also hunted for the illegal pet trade.

Saving Wildlife Together: Perth Zoo’s White-cheeked Gibbons are part of an international breeding program which help raise awareness of this species plight in the wild. Find out how you can help.

At Perth Zoo: Perth Zoo's White-cheeked Gibbons can be seen in the Asian Rainforest zone.

Adopt a Northern White-cheeked Gibbon at Perth Zoo and support your favourite animal, protect other threatened species and help important conservation work around the world.

Did you Know?

Gibbons are considered the most agile of the primate acrobats. They can clear up to three metres in one swing.

White-cheeked Gibbons have a very loud call called the ‘morning chorus’. This promotes bonding and marks territories.

Precinct
Asian Rainforest
Scientific Name
Nomascus leucogenys
Conservation Status
Critically Endangered
Body Length
45–63 cm
Weight
6–10 kg
Class
Mammal
Gestation
200–212 days
Number of Young
1
Distribution
Laos and Vietnam
Habitat
Subtropical and tropical rainforests
Region
Asia

Where you can find me

extraMile by Integranet