Screengrab / Auckland Zoo
Auckland Zoo’s new baby Bornean Orangutan with its mother Melur.
Auckland Zoo has announced the birth of a baby Bornean orangutan to second time parents Melur and Charlie.
On its website, Auckland Zoo says the 33-year-old Orangutan Melur was born on Sunday at 11.30am without complications, with the support of Charlie and the zoo’s primate team. The baby’s gender has not yet been confirmed.
Meanwhile, the zoo says that Melur has climbed to the plate of motherhood with great success.
“So far, Melur has proven to be an exceptionally attentive mother, and her baby has a strong sucking reflex and a healthy grip – both signs that he / she remains.
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“She enjoys making particularly huge nests and cuddling with her baby in the orang-tans in the area to make sure she keeps the baby in the correct position for care and is very gentle and caring.”
Tuesday was the family’s first chance to discover in their high canopy habitat with the new baby, but the zoo said it was all up to Melur and whether she would be comfortable doing it.
They said this meant that visitors could not see Melur and her baby directly.
Auckland Zoo deputy curator of mammals Amy Robbins said the birth was incredible witnessing.
“Melur knew exactly what to do and immediately cleaned up the baby and positioned it for care. This birth was greatly anticipated by Zoo whānau, especially with the recent loss of elderly orangutan Wanita,” Robbins said.
“It’s been 16 years since the birth of Melur and Charlie’s first successor, the male Madju (now a father himself), so it’s incredibly special to welcome her second.
“In the years to come, like us, visitors will once again have the rare privilege of experiencing the extraordinary bond between an orangutan mother and her baby and watching Melur feed and teach the young to make sure he / she believes in happened in the wild. “.
Auckland Zoo has been supporting the conservation of the critically endangered Bornean orangutan species in the wild for more than 20 years.
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