Lar Gibbon

Hylobates lar

Easy

The **Lar Gibbon** (*Hylobates lar*) is a mid-sized Asian primate featured in the Tropical Pack DLC for *Planet Zoo*.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In Wild:** 15,000 - 20,000

The lar gibbon (or Hylobates lar), also known as the white-handed gibbon, is a primate that lives in the rainforests of Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. The fur of this animal can vary from dark brown to ginger, tan, or cream in coloration. Its face is black, with a distinct white ring of hair around it. Its hands and feet are also white. Male and female lar gibbons look alike, have a head-body length 16.8in to 23.6in, and weigh between 8.8lb 16.7lb.

Lar gibbons are Endangered, primarily due to habitat loss through deforestation for agricultural development. However, they are also hunted for their meat and for the illegal pet trade. Many areas in their native range have been designated as protected conservation zones to combat these issues.

### Social

Lar gibbons live in family groups, which are led by a monogamous breeding pair with their young offspring. Usually, 2 to 3 juveniles remain with the parents at any one time. Lar gibbons are social animals and generally do not live alone.

### Reproduction

Lar gibbons leave their family group when reaching sexual maturity, and search for a mate and territory to start their own family. Through songs and calls, they attempt to attract the opposite sex. Generally, lar gibbons mate for life, however, extra-pair or polyandrous mating behaviours have also been observed. Before forming a lifelong monogamous bond with a mate of the opposite sex, young gibbons may engage in promiscuous or homosexual behaviours. When a young male and female lar gibbon meet, they will take time getting to know each other and begin vocalising together in what is called 'dueting' behaviour. If they bond successfully, they spend more and more time together, and if not, they go their separate ways to find a different mate. Similar to humans, lar gibbons go through oestrus every 4 weeks, all year round. They mate throughout the year, but will do so more frequently if the female is receptive, which is indicated by swellings on her hindquarters. While births can happen year round, there is a peak in successful conceptions in March.

After a pregnancy of 7 months, the female gives birth to one baby. In this species, the mother is the exclusive caregiver. For the first 4 to 6 months of its life, the infant is nursed an carried around by its mother. She then carries it around less and less, and it begins eating solid food, before becoming fully weaned by 2 years old. By this time, the mother is likely to get pregnant again. At 3 years old, the infant is rarely assisted anymore. Instead, it will care for its younger sibling, who the mother will have now given birth to.

Lar gibbons reach sexual maturity between 6 to 9 years of age and will slowly distance themselves from their family group over this time. Eventually, they leave their family group entirely to form their own. Males may begin reproducing at this age if they find a mate, however, females are unlikely to reproduce until they are 11 years old.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Block of Frozen Fruit · Forage Box · Suspended Forager · Tree Forager · Termite Mound · Fruit Spike Tree
Block of Ice · Bobbin · Bobbin Drum · Climbing Frame · Curio Ball · Mirror Mobile · Musical Keyboard · Rubber Duck · Small Ball · Small Ice Ball · Small Ball Colourful · Sprinkler · Small Ball Pumpkin · Metal Climbing Frame

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Facts

* Like other gibbons, the lar gibbon is mostly arboreal and moves between the trees by swinging from branch to branch, a locomotion method known as brachiation.
* The lar gibbon can leap forward up to 29.5ft in one brachiating jump.
* The lar gibbon is the fastest gibbon, moving through the trees at up to 30mph.
* The lar gibbon is the most active species of gibbon, spending 74% of their time feeding, traveling, and socializing, and only 26% of their time sleeping.
* Lar gibbon families engage in duets and song, using vocalizations and threats to defend their group and territory.