Hamilton Zoo Hamilton Zoo News 2015

[Tygo]

Article about Siamangs new enclosure.
Hamilton Zoo's siamangs get new outdoor enclosure | Stuff.co.nz

Hamilton Zoo's siamangs get new outdoor enclosure

Hamilton's resident siamangs have been given a retirement home in which to live out their twilight years.

The elderly primate couple, Itam and Iuri, have settled into Hamilton Zoo after relocating from Auckland Zoo in 2009.

"It's quite an experience for them, because they're now in their 30s, so they've had a long time living in much smaller accommodation," zoo director Stephen Standley✓ said.

A new outdoor enclosure gives visitors a clear view of the endangered species as guests are only separated from the enclosure by 1.2m-deep water.

"Siamang don't normally swim - in fact, they don't swim very far at all - so we have a ledge in front [of the bank] so if they do slip in, they have a chance to get out again," Standley said.

The species are endangered, but they've made a noble contribution to a global breeding programme, which aims to boost their numbers.

Before Hamilton, female Iuri, 36, and her beau Itam, 32, lived at Auckland Zoo and reared six offspring – four of whom are still alive. Some now live at other zoos in Australasia, Standley said.

Standley said siamangs live about 40 years and "breed pretty much to the end," but Iuri was sterilised in 2003.

"With a managed breeding programme you don't want to saturate the programme with a particular bloodline."

When the pair die, the zoo intends to get a breeding pair, Standley said.

The siamang is the largest of the gibbon family and has an inflatable throat sac, allowing them to make loud resonating calls called songs.

They sing for about 15 minutes several times a day. These calls are thought to aid bonding of pairs as well as protecting territory and can be heard from up to 5km away."

Standley said Hamilton Zoo has recently hired three new staff following a fatal tiger attack on zoo curator Samantha Kudeweh in September.

Immediately after the attack, WorkSafe NZ required the zoo to move to a two-keeper system for managing tigers.

Standley said he was unable to comment on anything related to the fatal incident as investigations are ongoing.

- Stuff

 

[Zoofan15]

Good to see they finally have a decent enclosure. Orana Wildlife Park have an amazing exhibit.

The article mentions the pair have reared six offspring (their seventh was rejected). Anyone know any details on the three not listed below:

Ipoh (M1993)

Irian (M2001)
Iwani (M2003) Deceased
Iberani (F2003) Deceased

 

[Chlidonias]

The article mentions the pair have reared six offspring (their seventh was rejected). Anyone know any details on the three not listed below:

Ipoh (M1993)

Irian (M2001)
Iwani (M2003) Deceased
Iberani (F2003) Deceased

I don't know the third one, but Peggy (at Orana) and Sue (at Willowbank) are the other two. Peggy was born in 1989 I think, maybe 1990; not sure about Sue but presumably she is not the same age because Iwani and Iberani were supposed to be the first siamang twins born at the zoo. Both of them went to Willowbank in 1994 (not too long after the birth of Ipoh), and Peggy later moved on to Orana. Both of them have bred since then (the male currently at Auckland is one of Sue's sons). I'd guess at Sue having been born c.1991/2, and then the unknown one being born obviously somewhere between 1993 and 2001.

 

[Zoofan15]

I don't know the third one, but Peggy (at Orana) and Sue (at Willowbank) are the other two. Peggy was born in 1989 I think, maybe 1990; not sure about Sue but presumably she is not the same age because Iwani and Iberani were supposed to be the first siamang twins born at the zoo. Both of them went to Willowbank in 1994 (not too long after the birth of Ipoh), and Peggy later moved on to Orana. Both of them have bred since then (the male currently at Auckland is one of Sue's sons). I'd guess at Sue having been born c.1991/2, and then the unknown one being born obviously somewhere between 1993 and 2001.

Thank you for that info, it's much appreciated.

I had no idea Peggy was the offspring of Hamilton's pair. I remember when the twins were born, the keepers said it was Auckland's tradition to name the offspring with names starting with I. I guess this tradition started with Ipoh, unless Sue and Peggy had other names originally.

At a guess, I'd say Peggy was born 1990 given that Itam is born in 1984. I don't think they can breed as young as 4-5 years.

As far as I'm aware Itam and Iuri were Auckland Zoo's first Siamang?