There are a couple new tenants in the former lion pavilion at Assiniboine Park Zoo.

Maya and Samson, two white-handed gibbons, are now living there, with the exhibit officially opening today.

The former lion pavilion received a complete indoor and outdoor renovation to accomoddate the gibbons.

Maya is a six year old female, Samson is a 15 year old male.

Maya was born at the Assiniboine Park Zoo. Curator Janice Martin says Maya left with her family when Assiniboine de-commissioned its monkeyhouse. Samson was born at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Martin says Maya and Samson were first introduced to each other about a month ago.

 

 

White-handed gibbons are an endangered species due to habitat loss and hunting; they are primarily found in tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia, where the zoo says palm oil production is on the rise.