Primates

Larger in size than other gibbons, the siamang is a native of south east Asia including Malaysia and Sumatra and is the most acrobatic of all the gibbons. It has a distinctive throat sac which, when inflated, amplifies its booming calls. Their main diet consists of leaves and fruit, but they will also eat blossom, insects, grubs and other small animals.

Did you know

The siamang is one of the noisiest land animals. They have a throat sac which inflates with air when they sing. Their call can be heard 8km away. They use this call to reinforce bonds with their mates and also to warn other gibbons not to enter their territory.

The black & white colobus monkey from eastern Africa is mainly a leaf eater although they also eat small quantities of fruit. These monkeys live in groups of around 9 individuals with the youngsters often being looked after by other members of the group. When they are first born the young have pure white hair on their bodies.

Conservation

Black & white colobus pelts were much sought after at the end of the nineteenth century and two million or so were killed before the demand declined - just in time to save them from extinction. Most of the individuals in the group were born and raised in Banham Zoo.

These monkeys are found in a small area of Columbian forest in South America. Like most tamarins they have a varied diet of fruit , leaves and insects and spend much of their day searching for food in the tree canopies. Cotton-top tamarins usually live in troops of 6-9 individuals. They will spend most of the daylight hours foraging and spend the night sleeping in the trees.

Conservation

The cotton-top tamarin is classed as endangered as the numbers are declining due to deforestation and the use of this species in the pet trade.

Golden-headed lion tamarins are found in lowland forest and swamps in Brazil and spend most of their time in trees and very rarely venture to the ground.

These small monkeys forage for insects and fruit also rely heavily on nectar as a food source from August - November.

Golden-headed lion tamarins are classed as endangered mainly due to loss of their habitat through logging and deforestation.