Chicago, April 28, 2025 – Lincoln Park Zoo announced the arrival of a new female lar gibbon, JC, just in time to celebrate her sixth birthday. She joins the current male resident, Murray, at the Helen Brach Primate House. The introduction of JC, also known as a white-handed gibbon, brings about a mixed-species companionship within the zoo. Differentiating between the two is made easier by their distinct coloring, with JC having a creamy white coat and Murray sporting black hair.
JC's move to Lincoln Park Zoo was recommended by the Gibbon Species Survival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Although JC and Murray come from different species, they are often placed together in such institutions for companionship. At six years old, JC brings youthful energy to her new environment.
“Gibbons are social species and Murray’s companion Burma passed away recently, so we’ve been working closely with the Gibbon SSP to find a new buddy for him,” said Danielle Fogarty, Zoological Manager of Primates at Lincoln Park Zoo. “JC has shown a lot of interest in Murray from the moment they were introduced and was quick to approach and gently touch him, so we’re hopeful that this is just the beginning of a long and successful friendship.”
Prior to her arrival in Chicago, JC lived at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, where she was born to her parents, Chanee and Leo. Her former keepers described her as “chill,” “curious,” and “confident,” attributes that have facilitated her smooth transition to Lincoln Park Zoo. Just a day into her residence, she adjusted well to her new habitat, enjoying activities such as lounging in a hammock, completing training sessions, and foraging. She appears to have a preference for hard-shelled nuts and grapes as treats.
Lar gibbons, native to Southeast Asia, spend much of their time in forest canopies. They possess arms longer than their legs, allowing them to move through the trees by brachiation, covering distances of 25 feet at a time. Lincoln Park Zoo’s gibbon habitat is equipped with special "brachiation bars" to encourage JC and Murray to engage in natural swing behaviors.
This species, known for their white hands and feet, are identified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List, facing threats like hunting and habitat loss to palm oil expansion. Lincoln Park Zoo has partnered with other organizations to support the Captive Primate Safety Act, which aims to restrict private possession of nonhuman primates.
The Lincoln Park Zoo, founded in 1868 and known for its leadership in conservation, animal care, and science, remains a private, member-supported institution open to the public year-round at no charge.