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West Australian
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Perth Zoo's white-cheeked gibbon Jermei seen for first time since suffering loss of sixth child
The West Australian exclusive Perth Zoo's white-cheeked gibbon Jermei seen for first time since suffering loss of sixth child
Perth Now
23-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Perth Zoo's gibbon seen for first time since loss of newborn
Jermei — Perth Zoo's white-cheeked Gibbon — has ventured outside for the first time since her heartbreaking pregnancy loss. On a cold, wet Wednesday morning, one of Perth Zoo's rarest animals soared through the air for the first time in three weeks. Bounding along with daughter Lulani and mate Kayak, white-cheeked gibbon Jermei seemed to embrace the freedom that had been taken from her since tragedy struck. Last month, the 22-year-old primate lost what would have been her sixth child shortly after birth. Gynaecological experts performed a caesarean to give the baby the best chance at surviving; and while the infant had a faint heartbeat on delivery, it died shortly after. And because of the surgery, it also meant a fragile Jermei had to stay inside away from the familiarity of her family. Jermei explores the new gibbon exhibit at Perth Zoo with mate, Kayak. Credit: Ian Munro / The West Australian, Ian Munro Primate keeper Nene Haggar said Jermei's time recovering had proven difficult as she wanted to be with her two fellow resident gibbons. But she said there was a risk the primate pair could inadvertently unpick stitches during grooming, so they were slowly reintroduced under the Zoo team's watchful eyes. 'We actually had to keep her separated, and she did not enjoy that at all. She found it really challenging,' Ms Haggar said. 'When you've had a C-section, they do ask for you to be very inactive and just to sit and rest — that's quite difficult with gibbons. Naturally, they're just curious, and they want to play and they want to move around. 'Because Jermei is making really good progress in recovery, we did want to see how she'd go having the full access to her whole space.' Jermei explores the new Gibbon exhibit at Perth Zoo for her first today. Ian Munro Credit: Ian Munro / The West Australian And so, finally, on Wednesday, she was able to explore the Zoo's new open gibbon exhibit for the first time, roaming through the enclosure and dangling from ropes before sitting pensively on the ground as if pausing to wonder what had happened over the last month. Jermei has had five successful pregnancies, with her six-year-old youngest daughter Lulani still living with her. She has previously had reproductive hardships, including a stillbirth a last year, and Ms Haggar said this year was likely Jermei's last in the breeding program. 'This would have been her last opportunity, and then, because she has had complications and challenges, we just decided that it would be best just to let her live her life and relax now,' she said The white-cheeked gibbon is critically endangered, and one of the rarest primates in the world, with Perth Zoo residents part of a global breeding program to grow numbers. So far, 11 white-cheeked gibbons have been born in the past 35 years.
West Australian
01-07-2025
- General
- West Australian
Perth Zoo's 11.7m new white-cheeked gibbon enclosure open to public days after tragic death of newborn
One foot carefully after another, a cheeky gibbon parades across a tightrope as he checks out his new home below. Perth Zoo's $11.7 million state-of-the-art gibbon enclosure opened on Tuesday, which takes the space into the air and tripling the space for the critically endangered apes. It means visitors can observe the acrobatics of the animals as they traverse rope pathways connected to a 14m tower overhead. Situated near Perth Zoo's entrance, the apes can now travel larger distances as the public watches from the ground below. Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said the expanded primate enclosure would be a drawcard for families. 'Record numbers of visitors are already enjoying the new café precinct and family facilities, and now, the primate crossing adds a world-class experience,' he said. 'Watching the gibbons swing through the skies is truly remarkable to see and it's these magic moments that form core memories and help inspire the next generation into conservationists.' Perth Zoo recorded more than 900,000 visitors in the last financial year, with upgrades, funded by the State Government, also completed to improve seating, barbeque and event facilities at the zoo. The unveiling of the exhibit comes after the zoo's gibbon population was hit by tragedy over the weekend. Keepers said the Zoo's white-cheeked gibbon Jermei went into labour over the weekend, but that the baby did not survive. Gynaecological experts who normally help with human pregnancies performed a caesarean to give the baby the very best chance at surviving. Perth's Gibbon population are part of a global breeding program to help boost numbers, with the apes one of the rarest in the world and native to south east Asia.
