Siamang
Did you know?
The arms of a siamangs (say it SIGH-amang) are longer than its legs – up to a five-foot span. Imagine if your arms could reach down to the ground while you were standing up! It makes for good swinging…
Discover Siamangs
Meet our siamangs
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Eating
(and predators!)
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Siamangs eat leaves, fruit, flowers, birds eggs and insects – things that are abundant in rainforests.
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Their main predators are humans and leopards.
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Cling to mama
(Then it's Dad's turn.)
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After a 7-month pregnancy, females give birth to a single baby, who clings to its mother’s belly for the first 3-4 months.
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When it’s around one year old, the father takes over daily care.
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Sleeping in trees
and making noise.
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Siamangs live in family units. They wake at sunrise and search for food all day before returning to sleep in their tree.
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To defend their territory, mated pairs create unique duets of booms, barks and hoots. Listen out for ours in the early morning!
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Protecting Siamangs
THE THREAT: Endangered in the wild, siamangs are losing their habitat to human logging and agriculture. Right now less than 5 per cent of that habitat is protected.
TAKE ACTION: Much of southeast Asia’s rainforest destruction is to make room for palm oil plantations. Check products you use for sustainable palm oil, and encourage companies to make the switch.
Asian forest Stories
We may be closed due to recent restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), but our keepers and veterinary team are still at the zoo every day caring for our animals. From enrichments to treats, check-ups to scratch-downs, here’s how we’re #closedbutstillcaring. Click on any image to start the slideshow. Mouse over to see … Continued
How does it feel to be the oldest siamang? Well, for Cho Cho, snuggled up with his companion Dudlee on a crisp fall morning at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, it seemed pretty cozy. This year Cho Cho is celebrating his 53rd birthday – which makes him the oldest siamang on record in human care … Continued
Rainy day? Here in the Pacific Northwest we get a lot of them. But that’s actually one of the best times to visit the Zoo! Fewer crowds, cool animals and plenty of places to stay dry. Here are 10 ways to do it. 1. Gaze at sea turtles Our new Pacific Seas Aquarium is the … Continued