Bouncing Bornean Orangutan Born At Lowry Park Zoo

TAMPA, FL — Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo is experiencing a baby boom of sorts.

The zoo welcomed its second newborn Bornean orangutan baby in two months with the Feb. 17 birth of a little female. The newest baby was born to 10-year-old Hadiah, a first-time mother. Hadiah’s own mother Josie, 30, also gave birth at the zoo to her fourth baby on Dec. 20.

“We are very fortunate that Hadiah was able to observe her mother’s labor and delivery just two months before her own experience,” said Angela Belcher, animal care manager for primates. “As a first-time mother, it took her some time to learn how to properly handle the infant, but much progress has been made in the last few days and she has the benefit of a great role model.”

Courtesy of its latest arrival, the zoo is now home to seven endangered orangutans. The group includes Hadiah and her baby Topi; an adult male Goyang, who sired Hadiah’s baby; Josie and male baby GoJo; and adult female Dee Dee and her juvenile daughter RanDee.

Lowry Park Zoo takes part in the Bornean Orangutan Species Survival Plan, which is a program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The plan is meant to support the conservation of certain wildlife species that are at risk for extinction. Topi is the ninth Bornean orangutan born at Lowry Park. There are less than 100 Bornean orangutans in the 24 AZA-accredited institutions in North America.

Topi weighed an estimated 2 to 3 pounds at birth and now spends her days snuggling and nursing with her mom. She will ride on her mother’s back and chest for several years and may nurse for as long as five years. Orangutan offspring are dependent on their mothers for an estimated seven years. The creatures are among the world’s largest primates, second to gorillas in size.

Orangutans are native to Indonesia and Malaysia and are considered endangered in the wild due to critical habitat loss. The population is estimated to have declined by more than 50 percent in the last 60 years.

To learn more about the zoo and its orangutans, visit Lowry Park Zoo online.

Photo by Dave Parkinson/Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo

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