Watch the newborn orangutan cuddle up to new mum Leia.
The birth of a Bornean orangutan has been hailed as “an important step forward” in efforts to save the species.
The tiny infant was born in the early hours of Tuesday 7 October at Chester Zoo, following an eight-and-a-half-month pregnancy for new mum Leia.
Bornean orangutans are one of the closest living relatives to humans, but remain highly threatened in the wild due to deforestation and illegal hunting. The safety of the species has been ranked as a top priority for conservationists.
Primate experts at the zoo have hailed the birth as “an important step forward” in efforts to safeguard the species and report that both mum and baby are doing well.
The newborn in Chester joins an international conservation breeding programme that’s working to protect the species from extinction and ensure its future for generations to come.
Mum Leia with her newborn infant. Credit: Chester Zoo
Chris Yarwood, Assistant Team Manager of Primates at Chester Zoo, said: “Leia is a wonderful mum. She’s extremely attentive and has spent the first few days holding her baby close, feeding regularly and forming a really strong maternal bond. It’s a huge privilege to witness.
“The baby is still tiny and we haven’t yet been able to determine the sex – but what really matters is that it’s healthy and that Leia is doing a brilliant job, as we knew she would.
“Any birth of a Bornean orangutan is incredibly special given how threatened the species is. It’s an important step forward for the international conservation breeding efforts that are working to prevent this iconic animal from disappearing forever.”
Bornean orangutan’s are only found in the wild in the tropical forests of Borneo, which have shrunk by more than 40% over the last 25 years due to unsustainable palm oil production and deforestation.
Cat Barton, Policy Lead on Deforestation-free Commodities at Chester Zoo, added: “Chester Zoo has worked with partners in Borneo for more than 20 years to safeguard wild orangutan populations, restore rainforest habitats and tackle the root causes of deforestation.
“Through long-term initiatives like wildlife corridors, community engagement and reducing human-wildlife conflict, we’ve supported efforts that have now helped the area where we work – the Kinabatangan – earn recognition as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.”
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