Critically Endangered Sumatran Orangutan Born at Sacramento Zoo

The Sacramento Zoo said a critically endangered Sumatran orangutan gave birth to a healthy male at the zoo on May 1, the first orangutan birth at the zoo since 1981.Indah, the zoo’s 19-year-old Sumatran orangutan, gave birth to the infant on the evening of May 1. While the infant is healthy, the zoo intervened when Indah was having trouble nursing.“The baby is currently receiving around-the-clock care by animal care and veterinary staff while the team is continuously reevaluating plans to reunite the infant with Indah,” the zoo wrote on Facebook. “The timeframe for reintroduction is unknown at this time, but that remains the ultimate goal.”A spokesperson for the zoo told Storyful that keepers were working with Indah on her maternal skills through positive reinforcement training. These videos and images were captured when the infant was taken outside to enjoy the sunshine and absorb some vitamin D, the zoo said.Janine Steele, Sacramento Zoo Animal Care Supervisor and Primate Keeper, said the birth was a milestone: “With only 79 Sumatran orangutans in human care in the United States, and populations of wild orangutans rapidly declining, every birth is a monumental success for the species.” Credit: Sacramento Zoo via Storyful
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