Endangered pileated gibbon born at Twycross Zoo
Twycross Zoo welcomes a significant addition to its primate family
An endangered pileated gibbon has been born at Twycross Zoo, marking the zoo's first newborn of 2026.
The infant arrived on the afternoon of 3rd February 2026 to parents Valentina and Helmut, both experienced and successful breeders.
Visitors can observe the mother and baby in the zoo's Gibbon Forest, although the baby's sex is yet to be determined.
Pileated gibbons are classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List, facing threats such as habitat loss and fragmentation in Southeast Asia.
The birth at Twycross Zoo is vital due to the baby's unique genetics, providing essential diversity to the European gibbon population.
Twycross Zoo plays a crucial role in conservation, managing the EEP for pileated gibbons across European zoos.
The £25 million Global Conservation Centre, currently under construction and expected to open in 2027, will enhance these efforts.
Matt Ford, Primate Curator and EEP Coordinator for pileated gibbons at Twycross Zoo, emphasised the importance of the birth:
“This is a hugely important birth, not just for Twycross Zoo but for the entire European pileated gibbon population. Every baby born as part of the EEP is carefully planned, and this infant carries genetics that are incredibly valuable for the long-term future of the species.
Seeing Valentina caring so confidently for her baby is fantastic, and it’s a real privilege for visitors to be able to witness such an important conservation success first-hand.”
Valentina and her baby can currently be seen in Twycross Zoo's Gibbon Forest, offering visitors a rare glimpse of one of the most threatened primates.
For more information and to book visits, please visit www.twycrosszoo.org.