Siamang Gibbons

(Hylobates syndactylus)

• Siamang Gibbons come from Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula in primary and secondary lowland and montane forest.
• They are classified as 'lesser apes' not monkeys!
  
• Siamangs pair bond for life and sing duets which solidify their relationship and announce their territory to neighbouring pairs of gibbons.
  
• They occupy the top canopy of primary rainforests and feed on leaves, fruit, flowers and animal prey.
  
• Siamangs move through the trees by swinging from arm to arm underneath the branches. This type of movement is known as 'brachiating'.
  
• Their gestation period is 200-240 days and their life span is 35 years.
  
• The pair will start breeding at approximately 6 years old and the male will sometimes carry the baby but return it to the female for feeding and sleeping.
  
• Females generally give birth to a single infant which is weaned at 3-5 years. 

Sam

Sam is a siamang gibbon (Hylobates syndactylus) who came to us from Banham Zoo.  He has one son, Onion, with whom he shares an enclosure at Monkey World. 

Onion

Siamang gibbon Onion, was born on 19/9/00 by caesarean section to his mother Sage and father Sam.