Baby Javan Gibbon Duke learning the ropes at 3 mos old

A rare Javan gibbon named Duke was born at the Greensboro Science Center on April 29, 2013. Zookeepers found him on the ground barely alive, apparently abandoned by his mother. Thanks to the well-trained GSC staff who were quick to respond to this dire situation and coordinated a team effort between zookeepers, curators, vets and skilled Cone Health staff to revive and care for the baby. To give Duke the best chance of survival, GSC keepers and staff decided to hand-rear the baby for the first critical months until he is self-sustaining, and has begun the process of trying to reintroduce him to his parents, Isabella and Leon, in the enclosed gibbon area, then hopefully his outdoor exhibit.
Now at 3 months old, Duke, is stable and doing exceptionally well. Physically, he is leaps and bounds ahead of where he used to be. The GSC staff is actually not having volunteers hold him as much at this point because he has gotten very strong and active. Staff does a lot of exercising with him in the playpen and has added several ropes and toys for him to climb, walk, bounce, and grab on to, which you will see in this video. He's getting much more coordinated and will reach up and grab for things to move around on. He also really likes to bounce on his legs.
This last week, GSC zookeepers started the process of getting Duke moved down into the gibbon blockhouse. On Friday, July 19, they put a smaller cage into one of the parent's units. The parents did not have access to the room but the smaller cage was up against the fence where they could touch him if they wanted. Duke stayed in here for a few hours and the parents had access to the back where they could come and go and see him. They get really spooked by new items though so today was mostly filled with alarm calling. But it was interesting to see Duke listening to their sounds and vocalizing himself. We will be doing this daily to get them desensitized to having him down there long term. If all goes well, he will start spending the night down there, likely in a few weeks.
Stay updated on baby Duke's progress on the Greensboro Science Center's website www.greensboroscience.org and the organization's facebook page / greensborosciencecenter

[@Zomboi_Z]

so cute i wanna keep! must hug! :)

[@LC-yn2xt]

Since he can't choose what to play on, maybe give him taught ropes first them move up to the loose ones when he gains a lot of skills and strength. Like a child playing with the plain cardboard box a fancy gift comes in, he will find great challenge and value in simple challenges early on, ones that might not be as entertaining to us.