An orangutan at the Oregon Zoo has given birth and is taking well to motherhood. On the morning of April 13th, Kitra, a 20-year-old Bornean orangutan gave birth to her first baby. Zookeepers say the mother and baby are doing well and are bonding while they take a hands-off approach, keeping a close eye on the new mother and her child.
"We will be watching to assess their progress," says the zoo’s primate curator Kate Gilmore. "Our care staff and veterinary team have been dedicated to giving Kitra everything she needed for a successful birth. Thankfully, she hasn't needed much help from us so far. She's been doing a great job by herself." Because Kitra’s caretakers are giving her space, they don’t yet know the sex of the newborn.
Habitat loss due to logging and oil palm farming, as well as poaching of orangutans for the illegal pet trade have endangered the species, so Kitra’s baby’s birth is a special occasion, adding to the world’s population of orangutans. Once Kitra and her baby have had some time to relax and bond, zookeepers will prepare for the new family to have their public debut.
Source: People