Each elaborate duet begins slowly, then accelerates in speed. A song lasts about 18 seconds and is repeated for about 15 minutes. Woodland Park Zoo's new siamang area, located at the Trail of Vines exhibit in the Tropical Asia bioclimatic zone, simulates their natural environment through the innovative use of dense foliage, vines, massive rock outcrops, pools and waterfalls. Visitors can observe the siamangs as they may behave in the wild. The area also has a heated indoor enclosure where the siamangs can reside during inclement weather.
Siamangs are an endangered species.
Woodland Park Zoo is dedicated to conserving the siamang. The zoo supported a genetic analysis of captive North American siamangs to determine if there were distinct subspecies within the captive population. This study concluded that there was not sufficient genetic variation among siamangs to support subspecies designation. As a result, North American captive siamangs are managed as one population. The effort to save threatened and endangered species requires cooperation and support at the international, national, regional and individual levels.