Endangered primate with ‘gentle nature’ dies ‘unexpectedly’ at a Nebraska zoo
A “cherished part” of a Nebraska zoo siamang habitat “unexpectedly” died Aug. 24, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium announced.
The 20-year-old siamang named Stewey was known as an “excellent companion” with a “gentle nature,” Great Apes and Pinnipeds Supervisor Christine DuPre said in an Aug. 28 Facebook post.
Since coming to the zoo in 2008, Stewey bonded with her 23-year-old male companion, Joey, and gave birth to a female siamang, Killian, who is now 6 years old, the zoo said.
“Although her siamang family members, Joey and Killian, remain clinically healthy at this time, they definitely feel Stewey’s loss,” the zoo said.
Siamangs typically live 30 to 40 years, according to the Los Angeles Zoo. Veterinarians are working to determine the cause of Stewey’s death.
The species is endangered, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and is native to the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra.
Siamangs are known for their calls, “often accompanied by behavioral acrobatics,” according to the Smithsonian. Stewey, the Omaha zoo said, had a “far-heard calling voice.”
“The calls of our siamangs, often heard in the morning and evening, are a familiar sound in our Zoo,” the zoo said. “These voices, welcoming the day and bidding it farewell, remind us of the wonder and majesty of the animal kingdom, which we are all so fortunate to share in every day.”
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Endangered primate with ‘gentle nature’ dies ‘unexpectedly’ at a Nebraska zoo."
