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Akron Zoo's white-cheek gibbon baby is named Lolani after mom Parker makes the pick

Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
Newly named Lolani, a baby white-cheeked gibbon,is seen shortly after Parker the mother stopped at the name in their enclosure in the Wild Asia habitat at the Akron Zoo.
Newly named Lolani, a baby white-cheeked gibbon,is seen shortly after Parker the mother stopped at the name in their enclosure in the Wild Asia habitat at the Akron Zoo.

Some parents ponder and agonize over picking the name for their baby.

For Parker, the female gibbon at the Akron Zoo, it took all of about 30 seconds.

Lolani or Keo?

Parker, with her baby clutching her side, quickly made her way into her enclosure at the zoo Friday morning and scampered right up to a colorful cardboard box with the name Lolani on it, ignoring the other equally colorful box with the name Keo on it off to her left.

Lolani it is.

Parker, a female white-cheeked gibbon holds her newly named baby, Lolani in their enclosure at the Wild Asia habitat at the Akron Zoo during a name selection event. Two names Lolani and Keo were final two names from the public naming contest. the name were presented enrichments. The newly named Lolani was born at the zoo on Dec. 9, 2021.
Parker, a female white-cheeked gibbon holds her newly named baby, Lolani in their enclosure at the Wild Asia habitat at the Akron Zoo during a name selection event. Two names Lolani and Keo were final two names from the public naming contest. the name were presented enrichments. The newly named Lolani was born at the zoo on Dec. 9, 2021.

The zoo, along with Akron Children's Hospital, held an online poll this month to narrow the list of potential names from five to two for the white-cheek gibbon baby born Dec. 9 in Akron.

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Mom picked the name Lolani, which, in Laos — where gibbons are native — means to soar or forge a new path.

Whether or not Parker picked the name for its meaning is unclear, but the tasty treats consisting of broccoli, carrots and yam, along with some kale and spinach found inside the cardboard box seemed to keep her and dad, Milo, occupied for some time.

Keeper Erin Whatley said the zoo and the folks from Akron Children's tried to pick genderless names since it might be weeks before they actually know Lolani's gender.

Whatley said this is because the baby is so attached to its mother's side and the keepers do not want to disrupt it.

Milo, a male white-cheeked gibbon snacks on a carrot after his mate Parker and his baby Lolani stopped at the name in their enclosure in the Wild Asia habitat at the Akron Zoo.
Milo, a male white-cheeked gibbon snacks on a carrot after his mate Parker and his baby Lolani stopped at the name in their enclosure in the Wild Asia habitat at the Akron Zoo.

"We want to make sure the bond between the mother and the infant is super strong," she said.

Picking name: Akron Zoo looking for help in naming its new white-cheeked gibbon infant

The birth was a first for the zoo as the gibbons, which are considered critically endangered in the wild, are new to Akron and just took up residence in the new Lehner Family Foundation Wild Asia exhibit that opened to the public in May.

For the courtship and birth to take place so quickly in a new enclosure is nothing short of remarkable, said zoo President and CEO Doug Piekarz.

Parker, a female white-cheeked gibbon and her baby stop at the name Lolani in their enclosure at the Wild Asia habitat at the Akron Zoo during a name selection event. Two names Lolani and Keo were final two names from the public naming contest. the name were presented enrichments. The newly named Lolani was born at the zoo on Dec. 9, 2021.
Parker, a female white-cheeked gibbon and her baby stop at the name Lolani in their enclosure at the Wild Asia habitat at the Akron Zoo during a name selection event. Two names Lolani and Keo were final two names from the public naming contest. the name were presented enrichments. The newly named Lolani was born at the zoo on Dec. 9, 2021.

This marks just the third such birth in three years at an accredited zoo.

The gibbons are not fans of the cold, so they are on public view in the winter months only through windows while they romp around inside of their large, multilevel indoor enclosure, where the temperature is kept at 80 degrees.

Craig Webb, who still maintains Craig was a fine name for baby gibbon, can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mom chooses Lolani as name for Akron Zoo's white-cheek gibbon baby