BABY BULLETIN: Hesty’s Baby is Here! - Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance

Welcoming a New Bundle of Joy

Following a seven-hour labor with Animal Care and Animal Health teams nearby and ready to assist if needed, Hesty delivered a healthy baby boy and immediately began demonstrating strong maternal instincts. Animal Care Specialists report that both mom and baby are bonding well, and nursing is progressing successfully.

Hesty’s new bundle of joy is not only a celebration for DZCA, but a vital achievement for the conservation of Critically Endangered Sumatran orangutans. This little baby represents a huge, hopeful step in preserving the species through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, emphasizing our commitment to supporting wildlife conservation efforts in Colorado and worldwide.

It All Comes Full Circle

This birth is particularly special for the Primate team because Hesty herself was born at Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance in 2010 to parents Nias and Mias. Guests and longtime supporters may remember that Hesty had a difficult start after birth and required assist-rearing support from Animal Care staff for several weeks before being reunited with her mother.

Because Hesty’s anatomy closely resembled Nias’, Animal Care teams spent years proactively training with Hesty to help prepare her for motherhood. Through positive reinforcement training, Hesty voluntarily participated in behaviors that would allow her care team to closely monitor both her health and the baby’s development throughout pregnancy and after birth. Teams were prepared to utilize that training if nursing challenges arose, but Hesty and her baby boy have successfully figured things out together.

Watching Hesty now thrive as a first-time mom has been an incredibly rewarding full-circle moment for the staff who helped care for her as an infant. This birth was especially meaningful to Assistant Curator Molly Kainuma, who was here at DZCA for Hesty’s birth, and was among the team that helped to support Hesty’s first few weeks of life.

“When Hesty was born, Michelle Valois (Animal Care Specialist – Primates) and I were both part of her hand-rearing team. Watching her become a mother herself nearly 16 years later is incredibly special. Not only does it make those long hours and uncertain moments worthwhile, but it’s also deeply rewarding to see that Hesty learned how to care for an infant from her own mother and from Eirina. Seeing her naturally demonstrate such strong maternal instincts and resiliency is the very best outcome we could have hoped for. We are so excited to welcome Hesty’s baby boy to our orangutan family!”

Lazos entre bastidores

As expected for any new mom, Hesty is currently spending most of her time behind the scenes resting and keeping her baby safely tucked close to her side as they continue to bond and adjust together.

To allow time for acclimation and gradual introductions with other members of the orangutan family, our Great Apes building may be temporarily closed to the public at times over the coming weeks. We hope to offer sneak peeks for members and guests soon, though visibility may be limited as Hesty keeps her little one close by.

Following along @denverzoo across our social media channels for updates on Hesty and her baby boy!

Help Us Name Hesty’s Baby

Now that baby is here, we need your help choosing the perfect name for our newest primate! With a $5 donation per vote, you can choose your favorites from these three names, lovingly chosen by his Animal Care team.