Español
Written By: Kendall Straub
As Hesty, our 15-year-old Sumatran orangutan, prepares to welcome her first baby, I’m also preparing to welcome my second child this summer. Experiencing pregnancy milestones alongside Hesty has been incredibly special and has made the similarities between human and orangutan maternal care feel even more personal. From ultrasounds and OG-BYN check ups to preparing for labor and newborn care, there are so many ways our journeys overlap—beyond the 96% of DNA humans and orangutans share.
First, some background: Female orangutans have monthly cycles, just like humans do—and the gestation time from conception to birth is also the same, around 9 months. This is why we can use human pregnancy tests on orangutans like Hesty to check for pregnancy. We also worked with Hesty so she could voluntarily participate in weekly ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s development in utero.
Hesty showed signs of morning sickness, just like humans do! She is often slow to get going in the morning and occasionally chooses to spend the day alone to relax. She also was less interested in her regular diet items, even some of her usual favorites.
First time orangutan mothers need help to learn how to take care of their babies, just like humans might attend birthing classes at their local hospital. Hesty had a lot of first-hand experience watching her mother, Nias, and step-father, Berani, care for her half-sister, Cerah. She also observed orangutan Eirina taking care of her baby, Siska, who was born here at the Zoo and is about to turn three on August 27.
Animal Care Specialists are helping Hesty prepare for a variety of potential scenarios, like if the newborn requires bottle-feeding. This is similar to a human mom who has difficulty breastfeeding, whether due to her milk being slow to come in or the baby having a hard time latching. We also train Hesty to retrieve objects, cuddle a stuffed animal close to her chest, and allow a baby bottle to be placed on her breast through the mesh.
Just like many human mothers, female orangutans have a very strong bond with their young. Orangutan infants are fully reliant on moms for nursing for the first three years of their lives, with initial stages of weaning taking place between three and five years old. They can start sampling solid foods around a year or two years old, but they will still be reliant on nursing for most of their nutritional needs for the first few years. As they start eating more solid foods, orangutan infants may venture further from their mothers but will still stay close.
Orangutan babies will stay with their mothers for seven to nine years (or sometimes even longer!). They need these developmental years to watch and learn from mom important skills needed for survival, like where to find food, what to eat, how to eat it (sometimes this involves using special tools) and how to build a nest to sleep in.
The birth of Hesty’s baby will be a very special event for the Zoo since she was born here on June 19, 2010 to mother, Nias, and father, Mias. Some of our current Animal Care Specialists were even here when Hesty was born! It truly shows how the work done here at DZCA has come full circle and exemplifies a conservation milestone for our 130th Anniversary.
Hesty’s birth watch begins May 8, so we are getting close! She will be monitored 24/7 by Animal Care Specialists both in person and via cameras, and they may work extended or variable shifts so they can best support Hesty. Hesty may not be visible during this time as she may choose to spend extra time relaxing behind the scenes in her bedroom. She will be separated from Jaya during the birth itself, as it could take several hours.
Once baby is here, Animal Care Specialists will watch closely to make sure Hesty is picking up and holding the baby. We will watch for nursing, such as observing the infant’s physical condition for signs of dehydration to make sure baby is nursing well, look at the baby’s grip strength, and monitor defecation and urination. Jaya can rejoin Hesty and the new baby once we feel confident that both are in good health.
Eirina, Cerah, and Siska will also be able to see Hesty and the new baby from their separate bedrooms. Unfortunately, Eirina and Hesty are not the best of friends so it is unlikely Siska will be able to play with the new baby. However, that means that once Hesty and the baby are both feeling strong and ready to venture outside of their bedrooms, DZCA guests will be able see a baby in both the outdoor and inside orangutan exhibits!
We can’t wait to welcome Hesty’s little one any day now, so be sure to keep an eye on our social media channels for updates!
