"Like all siamangs, the baby was born with a really strong grip," said Tiffany Burns, senior director of animal programs at the zoo. The baby will cling to its mom, Hutan, for three or four months, and a long and dense coat will begin growing in about two to three years. This indicates the adaptations of siamangs for their arboreal lifestyle, promoting bonding and survival in the wild.
"Immediately after the birth, [Hutan] was cleaning up the baby, signifying that she has everything in control," Burns said. "It's been really sweet to watch the bond form with the baby and mom." This highlights the nurturing behavior of siamang mothers and reinforces the bond essential for the infant’s development.
Siamang gibbons are endangered throughout Asia, mainly because of destruction of the rainforest to make room for palm oil plantations. The population has plummeted by 50 percent over the past five decades in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, with fewer than 200,000 living in the wild.
"To see this new baby has brought a lot of hope," Burns said. "It's a joy to watch them as a family unit, knowing that people who see them will want to learn more about them and help to protect them." This sentiment underscores the importance of awareness and conservation efforts related to endangered species.
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