Gibbons are lesser apes – not monkeys! Larg gibbons or white-handed gibbons have a slender body and very long arms, in fact their fingers touch the ground when standing or walking in a bipedal position. The skin is black, but the back of both their hands and their feet are white, as well as a ring of hair around the face. The rest of the body may be either color cream or dark brown.

They make a pendular movement with the arms for locomotion among the trees, seemingly effortless and very charismatic. This is called braquiation.

It is a social species, but the group is limitted only to family. They form monogamous pairs and remain together, also with several young that stay in the group for several years.

Gibbons let others know of their presence by vocalizing great, loud calls or “songs”. It sounds like a “whoop-whoop” and can be heard from anywhere you are at the zoo, so pay attention if they start announcing their territory because it is quite spectacular!