May
14
Boomer Siamang: Father and Friend, 1985-2011
By - May 14, 2011
Posted in Primates,Zoo History: Memories, Looking Back
An extraordinary animal left us last week. Boomer siamang, father of Leela and mate to Jambi, lost his battle with a chronic illness that had plagued him for years. Our veterinarians and keepers battled right along with him, keeping him feeling good with many treatments and medications and consulting with human gastroenterologists and other veterinarians at every twist and turn throughout his illness. In the end, all of it was just too much for him, and at the age of 25, he passed quietly surrounded by the keepers who loved him as their tears fell.
 
  
Boomer was a very special guy. He resided at the Houston Zoo since he was a 3 year old, and showed us right away that he was unique. He had an innate sweetness, and told his keepers right away if they were to his liking….or not. Even his favorite keepers had to use caution around him: he had a powerful grab at the end of those long gibbon arms, and many staff members were surprised as they had their hair pulled by him in a sneak attack. Like most primates he always let us know that would not tolerate us thinking of him as anything but the wild animal that he was.
 
Conversely, his gentle side was frequently evident. As a father he was devoted to his offspring. He fathered three kids and doted on them. The first, “Jacoma”, was born via Cesarean section and had to be hand-reared, but he came into his full parental role with his next two. Most siamang males help to carry their babies when the little ones are about 8 months old. Boomer started carrying his last two youngsters “Raya” and “Leela” when they were 8 weeks old. He allowed Leela to crawl all over him, even when he was not feeling his best. She would wander up to him playfully and curiously grab his deflated throat sac or traipse over him as he lay in the sun as if he were her personal doormat. He had such patience with his babies. And, he was a fiercely protective father: anyone who came up to his exhibit to see the latest new baby was left with no doubt that he was in charge and would defend her to the end.
 
Once he accepted someone, and he had legions of staff members over the years whom he did accept, he would allow them the high privilege of turning to present his back for grooming. Boomer loved a good backscratch, and he received many in his lifetime. He’d press his back against the mesh wall and relax as his keepers would knead his muscles and groom the thick black hair on his shoulders. One had to do this carefully, for the ever-present danger of being grabbed was always there, but Boomer would allow this the way a king accepts gifts from his subjects.
 
Siamangs sing together to bond with their mate and to defend their territory. One of the joys of the primate staff and volunteers was to listen to them sing together: their astonishing duet was heard all over the zoo and even over at the medical center. Guests were mesmerized as they watched the pair blow up their throat sacs and vocalize at an ear-shattering decibel level. One truly had the sense of their magnificence as their intricately matched song resonated; a sound that you could feel thrumming in your bones as they called. We will miss Boomer’s song. We will miss his wise face watching over his family. We will miss seeing him soaking up the sun on beautiful mornings.
 
 
We will miss our boy Boomer.
 
Written by Primate Supervisor Lynn Killam, photos by Primate Keepers Nathalie Jolicoeur and Diane Shea

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