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.

The baby siamangs rotate throughout the Islands mammal area on a daily basis so they will not always be visible.

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. More...

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.