PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Philadelphia Zoo has announced the public debut of its critically endangered Sumatran orangutan baby, born on June 26 inside the PECO Primate Reserve. This remarkable birth marks the zoo’s first successful arrival of this species in 15 years, representing a major conservation milestone.
The zoo’s animal team has identified the baby as a boy and named him Jambi, after a city on the island of Sumatra, the natural habitat of this species. Jambi was born to Tua, a 31-year-old female, and Sugi, a 28-year-old male. Tua is demonstrating exceptional maternal care, nursing and holding her baby constantly.
Rachel Metz, Vice President of Animal Well-Being and Conservation, expressed her excitement, saying, “It is a joy to be able to share this wonderful news with the greater Philadelphia region and the world. This critically endangered species is rapidly losing habitat largely due to deforestation as a result of an increased demand for logging, palm oil, and other natural resources located in their habitats. Working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to maintain a genetically healthy population in human care is vital to the survival of this species.”
Visitors can watch Tua and Jambi as they explore their outdoor and indoor habitats at the PECO Primate Reserve, where they have the freedom to make their own schedule. The zoo emphasizes that the orangutans will also have access to their private bedroom space for some alone time.
Michael Stern, the Andrew J. Baker Curator of Primates and Small Mammals, noted, “Our entire Zoo Community and those that work closest with our orangutans are thrilled to watch Tua become a mother again and watch this baby grow. It is an honor to care for and work with these animals, and we all feel the magnitude this birth has in the protection of this species.”
Dr. Donna Ialeggio, Director of Animal Health, commended the zoo’s dedicated team: “This successful outcome is a testament to the animal care, nutrition, and veterinary teams that have worked with Tua to greatly improve her health over the last eight years. Finding practical strategies to both maintain a healthy weight and treat her chronic Orangutan Respiratory Disease Syndrome with twice daily nebulization therapies are a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our staff.”
This birth is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which aims to ensure the survival and genetic diversity of Sumatran orangutans. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists Sumatran orangutans as critically endangered, with an estimated population of only 14,000 left in the wild due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation.
The Philadelphia Zoo has a rich history with orangutans, being the first to successfully breed them in 1928, and since then, has celebrated 19 more successful births. Tua previously gave birth in 2009 to a female named Batu, who now resides at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and is expecting her own baby.
Orangutans have an eight-month gestation period and rely entirely on their mothers after birth. They start eating solid foods at around four months but continue nursing for up to six years. In the wild, fathers typically do not participate in raising the young, though in zoos, they may live together with their mates.
For more information and to support the orangutans, visit the Philadelphia Zoo website.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.