Baby balancing act! Mother gibbon takes her offspring for a tightrope walk on the wild side

By PHIL VINTER

Stretching out her long limbs to maintain balance 15-year-old Pangrango carefully carries her furry pride and joy along the rope at Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich, southern Germany

Through glistening eyes as wide as saucers this beautiful newborn Javan gibbon takes a first glimpse of the world as its proud mother tries out a new trick on the tightrope.
Stretching out her long limbs to maintain balance 15-year-old Pangrango carefully carries her furry pride and joy along the rope at Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich, southern Germany.
These beautiful images capture the early moments of bonding between the endangered Javan gibbon and her offspring which keepers hope will be a star gymnast of the future.

These beautiful images capture the early moments of bonding between the endangered Javan gibbon and her offspring which keepers hope will be a star gymnast of the future

The baby arrived after on the August 19 after a pregnancy lasting seven months and it is now entrancing Hellabrunn’s visitors.
Pangrango and her other children, son Flip, seven and daughters, Isabell, four and Kim, two appear to be delighted with the new addition to the family.
The other siblings have clearly learned from mum as they leap and tumble nimbly around in the background mum and baby.

The baby arrived after on the August 19 after a pregnancy lasting seven months and it is now entrancing Hellabrunn’s visitors

Zoo keepers are know yet to discover whether the new resident in the park is a baby boy or girl.
This endangered species of primate is only found at this zoo which plays an important role in breeding makes a significant contribution to the conservation of Javan Gibbons.

This endangered species of primate is only found at this zoo which plays an important role in breeding makes a significant contribution to the conservation of Javan Gibbons

Javan Gibbons only live in the wild on the Indonesian island of Java. They belong to some of the most threatened primates and are listed as an endangered species on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List

Using these arms and the so-called brachiation method, they are able to swing confidently across distances of up to ten metres in the tree-tops. Like other species of Gibbon, their very loud singing is characteristic and serves to identify their territory

Once a Javan gibbon pair mate, they live together in a life-long, monogamous relationship in a family group comprising their not yet sexually mature children. Keepers say Pangrango and partner Peter are model parents when it comes to looking after their children, with both sharing responsibility

source: dailymail