Little does this cute baby know, but he's about to help save his species.

Howletts Wild Animal Park is celebrating the arrival of the baby Javan gibbon.

But, while it's great news for the park near Canterbury, the birth has even greater significance for the planet.

.The gibbon is endangered in the wild, with as few as 2,500 mature individuals still in their natural habitat

We are all delighted with our latest arrival to this group of Javan gibbons. Mum is very experienced and her baby boy is doing well.""Head of primate section, Matt Ford said:

The Javan gibbon is the most endangered of the gibbon species - with the illegal pet trade, hunting and deforestation all contributing to the decline of the wild population in Indonesia.

There are now only around 50 captive Javan Gibbons outside Indonesia, held at 10 collections around the world.

While these collections are cooperating in a captive breeding programme, only a few pairs are breeding successfully.

Matt said: "Howletts and our sister park, Port Lympne, together hold half of the world's total captive population of Javan gibbon - currently housing 11 males and 13 females between the two parks.

"With 25 viable births since 1988, we are the world's most successful breeder of this species."