The Louisville Zoo is currently hand-raising
three baby siamangs—Sungai, Zoli and Zain. We are believed to be
the only Zoo to ever hand raise three baby siamangs this young.
Zoli was born at the Louisville Zoo in 2007 but
both of his parents died unexpectedly. Two other babies (Sungai
and Zain who were abandoned at birth) were brought in to be
companions for Zoli. They are all currently being raised
together by loving Zoo staff.
Siamangs—a tree-dwelling ape native to Southeast
Asia—are on the endangered species list. There are only 120 in
zoos nationwide, with three at the Louisville Zoo.
May 12, 2008: The three baby siamangs are
becoming more independent and often venture out on their own
within the exhibits. But, they don’t stray too far from their
loving caretakers. They enjoy flying across the ropes in their
“baby jungle gym” set up by keepers and climb higher and higher
each day.
Their current favorite foods are sweet potatoes,
mangos, grapes, apple sauce and clovers. Zain (who weighs 6
pounds) and Zoli (who weighs close to 8 pounds) receive three
bottles a day and Sungai gets two
bottles. Sungai, the oldest of the bunch, is also adventurous
enough to climb high in the outdoor exhibits to snag bamboo to
munch on.
Staff currently describes Zain as timid, Sungai
as sweet and Zoli and as rowdy.
Oct. 11, 2007: Louisville Zoo's three
hand-raised siamangs, Sungai, Zoli and Zain, made their first
public appearance.
More...
August 28, 2007: Sungai, a 1-year-old
female siamang from the San Francisco Zoo and also Zain's
sister, arrived at the Louisville Zoo. This makes three baby
siamangs age 1 and under.
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July 12, 2007: Zain, an 8-week year-old
siamang from Albuquerque Biological Park in New Mexico arrives
as a "brother" for Zoli. Zain was abandoned by his parents
shortly after his birth.
More...
June 1, 2007: Zoli is developing very
quickly. Zoli is fed six times a day and sleeps in an incubator
clinging to a teddy bear. During feedings he clings to keepers
through a black poncho that they wear to simulate what his
mother would feel and look like. Weighing only 8 ounces at
birth, the baby now tips the scales at over 1.5 pounds. He is
starting to eat small amounts of bananas and sweet potatoes in
addition to his formula. Zoli is not yet able to be on exhibit.
April 8, 2007: The Louisville Zoo is
saddened by the recent loss of our adult siamangs Ziggy, 15 and
Sue Ann, 9. The pair died April 4. No cause has been
determined at this time. Baby Zoli seems to be doing well and is
being hand-raised by Zoo staff.
February 20, 2007: Baby Zoli is born to
siamangs Ziggy, 15 and Sue Ann, 9.
