PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Zoo announced the public debut of its critically endangered Sumatran orangutan baby.
The new arrival, a male, is named Jambi -- after a city on the island of Sumatra, where his species is native. Born to the Zoo’s 31-year-old female Tua and 28-year-old male, Sugi, on June 26, the infant continues to look strong, and Tua continues to be an excellent mother, nursing and holding the baby at all times, zoo staff said in a press release.
Mom and baby are now exploring their outdoor habitat at PECO Primate Reserve. The two continue to make their own schedule on when they will be visible to guests. They have access to their outdoor habitat and indoor habitats where visitors can get a glimpse of them. The two will also have access to their bedroom space to spend time alone.
This is the first successful birth of this species at the Zoo in 15 years and a significant birth to the populations of these animals. The baby’s birth is a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan breeding program to ensure the survival of Sumatran orangutans and maintain a genetically diverse population.
Sumatran orangutans are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature with a population of 14,000 left on the island of Sumatra. Primary threats include deforestation and population fragmentation.
“It is a joy to be able to share this wonderful news with the greater Philadelphia region and the world,” said Vice President of Animal Well-Being and Conservation Rachel Metz. “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."
In 2009, Tua successfully gave birth to and raised one female offspring, Batu, who stayed with Tua and Sugi at the Zoo through 2021. When the time was right and she and her family showed the behavioral signs it was time for Batu to leave her family, the SSP paired her with a male at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington, where she is now expecting her first baby this September.
In 1928, Philadelphia Zoo was the first to successfully breed orangutans. Since then, the Zoo has had 19 more successful births.
Orangutan babies are born after an 8-month gestation and are dependent on their mothers. The baby is able to cling to its mother’s fur. Babies will nurse from their mothers for up to six years but can start eating solid foods at four months old.
Offspring will stay with their moms until they reach adolescence at seven to 10 years old. In the wild, fathers typically don’t play a role in raising the young; in zoos, depending on personality, many orangutans do enjoy living together with their mates.
After allowing time for Tua and the baby to bond, Philadelphia Zoo officials said they will allow Tua, baby Jambi and dad- Sugi- to be together if they choose to be. Tua and Sugi live together most of the time.
The Philadelphia Zoo also provided some facts about Sumatran orangutans:
- Sumatran orangutans live in primary and secondary forests of Sumatra, an island of Indonesia.
- They are the only members of the great ape family to spend most of their time off the ground.
- Their legs are short, but they have long, muscular arms to help them climb high in the trees.
- They primarily eat fruits but also eat leaves, inner bark and various types of non-leafy vegetation.
- Orangutans are the most solitary of the great apes, but they exhibit a wide range of sociality across their range and may be extremely social when they do associate with other orangutans.
