ZOOKEEPERS say they have their fingers crossed for the pitter patter of baby gibbon feet in the "near future".

Colchester Zoo says male gibbon Lae and female Qiwen are becoming closer as the pair have been observed grooming each other.

The news comes as the zoo marked World Gibbon Day on Thursday. 

Female QiwenFemale Qiwen (Image: Colchester Zoo) Breeding programmes such as the one at the zoo are vital for the conservation of this species as they are currently classed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

A spokesman said: "The main threat facing this species is habitat loss as many wild forests in Cambodia, Laos and south-east Thailand are being converted into farmland. This has led to local extinctions in some areas."

Male LaeMale Lae (Image: Colchester Zoo) Pileated gibbons are a sexually dimorphic ape species meaning that males and females look very different. Therefore, it is easy to tell the pair apart.

Lae is black in colour and has a very white face which matches his hands and feet, whereas, Qiwen has light grey fur with a dark face and stomach.

A spokesman said: "They have been observed grooming one another and have even been singing together which is a sign of their close bond.

"In the wild, males and females sing coordinated duets to advertise the relationship between them, so we are delighted every time we hear their lovely song."

Aside from the positive steps taken by the gibbon pair, the zoo has also recently welcomed some new animals.

They have welcomed a four-year-old green iguana named Ari, who has joined long time residents Fernando and Pusia.

The zoo has also added a one-year-old female to their forest dragon family, bringing it up to three females and one male.

Despite the young female being much smaller, she is said to be full of confidence and is often spotted basking in the sun.

They have also introduced a black tree monitor to their heart of the Amazon habitat - a new species for the zoo.

This 13-year-old female has come all the way from the Cotswolds and is said to still be comfortable in her new surroundings, but venturing out more day by day.

For more information and news on the zoo, visit https://tinyurl.com/Colchester-Zoo-news