Officials at Audubon Zoo in New Orleans announced last month that a critically endangered Sumatran orangutan gave birth to twins on Christmas eve. Phys.org reported that the 12-year-old Sumatran orangutan named Menari gave birth to the first baby without any problems but had a problem giving birth to the second baby that resulted in a stillbirth.
However, what intrigues people and other orangutans in the zoo about the remaining healthy baby boy is that instead of being breastfed, zoo staff are feeding the baby orangutan from a bottle. Before that, the baby was tube-fed and that was only removed recently says Audobon Zoo spokeswoman Annie Kinler Matherne.
First-Time Mother Menari Having Lactation Problem
Sumatran orangutans are great apes who are known for their long red hair. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUSN) has classified them as critically endangered species after hunting and habitat destruction has caused their dwindling population.
That is why the birth of a Sumatran orangutan in New Orleans is greatly celebrated. It was supposed to be twins but veterinarians found that one of them was already dead inside the womb even before it was born. Moreover, the remaining baby also started showing signs of weakness and lack of nursing.
A more recent article in Phys.org said that analysis on the mother showed that it has a lactation problem that prevented it to breastfeed its young. As a solution, zoo staff has taken care of the baby orangutan round-the-clock while wearing fury vests, change its diapers, and feed it using a bottle.
His situation also intrigued other orangutans in the cage, especially the 2-year-old Bulan. The zoo associate veterinarian Dr. Daniel Cutler shared a video where Bulan was gently pulling the new baby's hands from the fur vest of hospital keeper Amy Jones.
"He's ... probably not going to like it-he wants to be nice and close and cuddle," he said as Phys.org quoted.
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Sumatran Orangutan: Threats, Habitat, Conservation Efforts
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Sumatran orangutan is almost arboreal or species that live among the trees as they are rarely seen traveling on the ground. They are known to have closer social ties compared to their Bornean cousins, which is demonstrated while they feed as groups.
They were historically spread throughout Sumatra and further in the couth of Java. But today, their species is limited to the provinces of North Sumatra and Aceh. Wildlife experts said that only seven out of nine existing populations of Sumatran orangutans have prospects of long-term viability.
But with the continuous problem of fires and conversion of forests to agricultural lands has caused habitat loss in North Sumatra. Authorities have already planned in building a major road in the area that could open up access for illegal logging activities and human settlements.
For now, wildlife organizations are looking to stop clearing the largest part of the natural forest where most Sumatran orangutans remain. This will not only protect the orangutans but other species as well that live in the area. They have presented spatial plans based on Sumatra's ecosystem to conserve the last forests in the land, which includes plans on reducing the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
Check out more news and information on Orangutans in Science Times.
