Photo: courtesy audubon zoo
The Audubon Zoo is celebrating an important arrival after a “bittersweet” birth.
On Christmas Eve, the New Orleans zoo’s Sumatran orangutan Menari gave birth to a healthy male infant. Thecritically endangered primatewas pregnant with twins,a rare occurrencefor the species that can lead to high-risk pregnancies.
courtesy audubon zoo
“This is a bittersweet time for our team, but, given the very serious complications with the second infant, we are extremely happy that Menari and the surviving infant are together and doing well,” Bob MacLean, Audubon’s senior veterinarian, said in a statement “There are many risks associated with pregnancy, especially with first-time mothers, but our veterinary team and OBGYN specialists are very pleased with Menari’s recovery and her natural mothering instincts thus far.”
“Audubon’s veterinary team and visiting neonatologist observed that the infant was showing signs of weakness and lack of nursing. Menari was examined, and it was noted that she was not adequately lactating. The care team stepped in and is hand-rearing and bottle-feeding the infant,” the zooshared on Facebook.
“The infant is regaining strength and is very active! The timeframe for when the infant will be reintroduced to Menari is still being determined,” the facility added.
The Audubon Zoo is optimistic that Menari will be able to mother the child once the infant is stronger. Even though this new arrival is Menari’s first, the primate has learned how to parent from watching other orangutans at the zoo raise their babies.
Each new Sumatran orangutan birth is a success for the critically endangered species. The Audubon Zoo works with the Orangutan Species Survival Plan and zoos around the world to maintain a genetically diverse captive Sumatran orangutan population.
In the wild, there are less than 14,000 Sumatran orangutans left, and their numbers are declining because of human-wildlife conflict, palm oil plantations, and the destruction of the animal’s natural habitat, according to the zoo.
source: people.com
