New Perth Zoo gibbon enclosure opens days after tragic death

01-07-2025

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. The enclosure is situated near Perth Zoo's entrance. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian
'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. Perth Zoo's $11.7 million state-of-the-art gibbon enclosure opened on Tuesday. Credit: Ross Swanborough / The West Australian
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.

Hashtags

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Perth local shares secrets to long life on 103rd birthday

Perth Now

05-08-2025

Perth Now

Perth local shares secrets to long life on 103rd birthday

Mt Lawley resident Marie Sakalo has turned 103 years old, but she's not counting. She has shared some of her top secrets to lead a long and happy life, and not to mention beauty advice that has kept her skin looking fabulous. With skin that anyone would envy, Ms Sakalo said that the key is to always moisturise twice a day, hinting that an Olay night cream works wonders. She also believes that 'no marriage' also seemed to do the trick to looking so good. Ms Sakalo said that she loves her family and found great happiness in feeling needed and helping people, especially when it came to looking after children. 'Don't just take care of yourself, take care of the people around you,' she said. 'Don't be lonely, don't lock yourself away.' Ms Salako said she was always proactive with her health saying a lot of people become sicker because they don't get to the doctor quick enough. A die hard Fremantle Docker's supporter, Ms Salako predicted that this year will be the year they'll take home the flag, so watch this space. Marie Sakalo with her great-grandson Josh Donaldson. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian She celebrated her milestone surrounded by her two children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, who described her as an 'amazing, resilient and grateful' woman. The family's four generations range from 103 years old to just 18 months old and all now live in Perth. The Juniper Riverslea resident marked the milestone on July 30 with a special afternoon tea alongside staff and friends at the Mt Lawley aged care home before heading to her eldest daughter Alla Donaldson's home for an evening of bubbles, cake and a big family get-together. Ms Sakalo lived alone in a two-storey unit in Mt Lawley before relocating only a couple of blocks away, just three weeks shy of her 100th birthday. Born near Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1922, much of Ms Sakalo's early life was shaped by war and political upheaval. Her father, an engineer, was sent to Siberia for opposing the communist regime but survived and returned to Ukraine a broken man. The family was displaced multiple times before being sent to camps during WWII. Ms Sakalo's former husband, a surgeon in the Zhukov army, became a respected doctor in Polish and Ukrainian refugee camps after the war. The young family eventually relocated to France, then Italy, before boarding a ship in 1949 bound for Australia. Ms Donaldson said her mum had made it her mission on the ship to ensure the children onboard received food, because she'd experienced starvation during the war. Originally bound for Brisbane, a railway strike meant Ms Salako, her husband and son were sent to a migrant camp in Cunderdin before relocating to Northam, where their first daughter was born. From there, the family moved to East Fremantle, East Perth, North Perth and finally settled in Mt Lawley in 1962, a suburb Ms Sakalo has now lived in for 63 years. Before the war, Ms Sakalo was working in dentistry, but after arriving in Australia she dedicated herself to raising her three children. Education and family were always her priorities. 'Mum's philosophy was number one, family is most important; number two, having a roof over your head; and number three, educating the children,' Ms Donaldson said. Fish and chips on Friday are my favourite — a nice piece of fish and fresh cooked chips, that's what I like. Marie Sakalo Ms Sakalo played an instrumental role in raising her grandchildren, babysitting three days a week while Ms Donaldson worked as a general practitioner. Her first grandchild, Melissa, was born on Ms Sakalo's birthday, a bond made even stronger by their shared talent for sewing. 'Melissa has inherited my mother's ability to sew beautifully,' Ms Donaldson said. For most of her life, Ms Sakalo lived independently in Mt Lawley. Ms Sakalo was still living alone in a two-storey unit, complete with a chair lift, until a fall saw her move into Juniper Riverslea Residential Aged Care Home. 'I'm settled and happy here. I like it here,' Ms Sakalo said. 'I like mixing with people, having morning coffee, reading magazines. 'Fish and chips on Friday are my favourite — a nice piece of fish and fresh cooked chips, that's what I like.' She even has her favourite spot to sit, where she can look out to Optus Stadium and the river and even people watch. Marie Sakalo celebrates her 103rd birthday surrounded by family in Mt Lawley. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian She now enjoys sitting in Riverslea's communal lounge, overlooking the Swan River, and is adored by staff who describe her as gentle, kind and always appreciative. 'She never grizzles or grumbles,' Ms Donaldson said. 'She's shy but she's lovely — and she's been an incredible role model to all of us.' Four generations of the Sakalo family live within 20 minutes of each other, a closeness that Ms Sakalo cherishes. 'We're very blessed,' Ms Donaldson said. Ms Donaldson said her mum is the oldest Ukrainian born female in Australia.