A baby Siamang Gibbon Ape is the latest arrival at Orana Wildlife Park.
Peggy and Oscar, Orana Wildlife Park's singing Siamang Gibbon pair, are new parents to the first Ape ever born at Orana! Both Peggy and Oscar are proving to be great parents to the five-week-old youngster. At present the baby is difficult for visitors to see as it clings on tightly to Peggy and staff are yet to determine the sex of the baby, which is an extremely significant arrival.
Animal Collection Manager, Ian Adams, explains the importance of the baby: "Not only is this the first Ape to be born at the Park, but the youngster is an important animal for the regional breeding programme. Oscar (aged 18 years) arrived at the Park in 2007. He is a new founder animal for the Australasian Species Management Programme (ASMP) for Siamangs because he is a confiscated wild caught animal and provides genuine new bloodlines as he is unrelated to all other Siamangs in this region!"
The birth of the baby is the culmination of collaboration amongst three zoos. The Park's Siamang exhibit was completed in 2005 at which time Peggy moved to the Park. Oscar was transferred to New Zealand from Singapore Zoo but his move was complicated because MAF regulations state that primates can only be imported into New Zealand from Australia - and that the animal needs to have resided in Australia for at least 120 days. So, Oscar spent four months at Adelaide Zoo (including 60 days in quarantine due to import/export protocols) before moving to Orana.
"Oscar's transfer was really important because the regional programme desperately needed new bloodlines. We really appreciate the support and effort of Adelaide Zoo in bringing Oscar to the region on our behalf demonstrating how zoos work together for conservation - and in this case the result is a delightful baby Siamang" says Ian.
Siamang Gibbons are classified as 'Endangered' by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). The species is threatened due to a number of factors, particularly habitat loss as their rainforest home is being destroyed. Park staff members encourage people to embrace the 'Think Globally, Act Locally' idea to help Siamangs: "We consider conservation to be everyone's responsibility. Locally, people can become involved in conservation by planting native trees, neutering pets and making ethical purchasing decisions" adds Ian.
Orana's Siamang habitat was funded by a donation from Park volunteer Mabel McClelland who sadly passed away last week at the age of 84 years. The Siamang exhibit is located near the Park's entrance and consists of a house above a landscaped island. The Siamangs access the island by swinging across high ropes which are 7.5 metres off the ground, demonstrating their spectacular brachiation movement pattern. The Apes sing loudly most days and their calls echo through the Park.
The Park's Siamang exhibit has been recognised in 2006 as an example of "excellence in animal display and exhibit design" by the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA).
