Baby Snakes a Conservation Ssssuccess at Columbus Zoo

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: March 8, 2022 10:16 pm

Guntur the siamang is seen at the Smithsonian's National Zoo where he will soon meet guests. He arrived at the zoo last fall and is described as easy going.

Photo Credit: Smithsonian's National Zoo

The Smithsonian's National Zoo have announced the addition of a new pair of siamangs to their Gibbon Range habitat. Abi and Guntar came to the zoo last fall and will go on exhibit once the weather warms up.

Ten year old Adina or Adi for short came from El Paso Zoo in Texas. Keepers describe her as smart, determined and head-strong. In the short period which she has been at the zoo she has been able to learn a range of husbandry behaviors.

Guntur is seven years old and made the move from the Virginia Zoo. Keepers say he is easy going and always keen to see them, coming up to the wire when they arrive.

You can tell the pair apart as Guntur has a small tuft of fur where a tail would have been. As a a lesser ape the siamang does not have a tail.

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Guntur and Adi have been brought to the zoo after a recommendation from the Gibbon Species Survival Plan. The Smithsonian's National Zoo made the request as they had extra space in their Gibbon Ridge habitat.

The pair are a good genetic math for one another but at present have not been recommended to breed.

Introductions between them went well with keepers initially giving them time to meet through a mesh barrier giving them a chance to smell and interact with each other without incident.

It took only two weeks for the pair to show enough positive signs such as grooming before keepers felt comfortable allowing them to share the same space.

The Smithsonian's National Zoo was already home to an older siamang pair known as Ronnie and Bradley who have been adjusting to life with their new neighbors. They can hear and smell one another but will never be in the same space.

Learn more about Siamangs here - Siamang Fact File | The Animal Facts

Learn more about the Smithsonian's National Zoo on their website – Smithsonian's National Zoo

Adi the siamang is seen at the Smithsonian's National Zoo where he will soon meet guests. She arrived at the zoo last fall and is described as determined and smart.

Photo Credit: Smithsonian's National Zoo