We’re beside ourselves with joy…our Sumatran orangutan sayang (baby) arrived on Sunday, August 27! You may be able to catch a glimpse of the adorable “redhead with bedhead” as she bonds with mom Eirina and endures the sweet (and persistent) curiosity of the rest of the family.
Our animal care and health teams report that mom and baby—who is believed to be a female, and whose name is yet to be determined—are thriving in their Great Apes habitat in Primate Panorama. This is Eirina’s first baby after receiving a breeding recommendation as part of the Sumatran Orangutan Species Survival Plan and provides an invaluable boost to the Critically Endangered species. Our animal health team will be conducting a DNA test in the coming weeks to determine whether the baby’s father is 30-year-old Berani, or 15-year-old Jaya.
Eirina joined us from Germany’s Dortmund Zoo in 2016, and has since enjoyed spending time with the Zoo’s other female orangutans—including Hesty (13) and Cerah (5). Shortly after we announced Erina’s pregnancy in April, the mom-to-be and her care team made national news when Animal Care Specialist Cindy Cossaboon was able to soothe the first-time mom’s morning sickness by making her the same tea she drank when pregnant with her own daughter.
The birth of a healthy Sumatran orangutan baby marks a momentous occasion, both for Denver Zoo and the global conservation community. Sumatran orangutans are listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with a rapidly declining wild population due to habitat loss, illegal hunting and the black-market pet trade.
At Denver Zoo, all babies are precious—but there’s even more cause for celebration when we get a win for a Critically Endangered species. As a non-profit conservation organization, we rely on YOU, our beloved community to support the essential work we do on campus, across Colorado and around the world. Please consider donating to our Orangutan Baby Registry and stay tuned for more updates!
We hope you’ll swing by soon to see the new baby! Remember, your visit supports our wildlife conservation efforts in Colorado + worldwide. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok for updates on our 3,000 wonderful animals.
