Perth Zoo's gibbon seen for first time since loss of newborn
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.
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