A Sumatran orangutan, born on October 2, made her official public debut today at the Philadelphia Zoo. The red-haired baby, a female, can be seen clinging tightly to mom in their exhibit at PECO Primate Reserve.

The orangutan was born to 17 year old female Tua, who came to the Philadelphia Zoo from Zoo Atlanta, and male Sugi, 13, who was born at the Saint Louis Zoo. Adult orangutans can weigh as much as 250 pounds (males), but weigh just 3-4 pounds at birth.

The newborn is the first orangutan born in PECO Primate Reserve, but continues the Zoo’s long and successful history, which dates back to the 1920’s when the Zoo was the first in the U.S. to breed orangutans.

PECO has donated an Energy Star washing machine to the Zoo in celebration of the new birth. Although of course diaper-washing is not necessary, orangutans do enjoy covering up in blankets and towels, and the new machine will help with the added load. “It is exciting to add another member to the PECO family,” said Denis O’Brien, president and CEO of PECO. “As founding sponsor of PECO Primate Reserve, we have shared many successes with the Zoo but, the arrival of the first orangutan baby is a real highlight."

Philadelphia Zoo and PECO will be sponsoring a naming contest for the baby on the Zoo’s website – philadelphiazoo.org. The names to be voted on are Batu (islands off the coast of Sumatra), Kadoa (small gift) and Anoano (blessing). The naming contest will go until November 26 and the winning name will be announced shortly thereafter.

The Zoo’s veterinarians and animal care staff were well-prepared in advance for the birth, which they expected based on Tua’s physical and hormonal changes. Although everything went smoothly after the baby was born, staff had created a specialized medical team for back-up, and monitored mom and baby to ensure proper care. Zoo staff already had a trusting relationship with the expectant mother, and Tua learned to participate in physical examinations and, after the birth, to bring her baby close for examination. “Although Tua is a first-time mom, she’s doing a great job,” said Tammy Schmidt, one of the Zoo’s mammal curators. “As a result of their close relationship, Tua has been comfortable periodically showing her baby to her regular keepers. That has allowed us to keep close tabs on the baby’s condition without interfering with mother/infant interactions.”

As a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Philadelphia Zoo breeds animals under the advisement of Species Survival Plan® (SSP) programs. Started in 1981, SSP programs manage the breeding of many endangered species of animals in zoos and aquariums, in order to maintain self-sustaining populations that are both genetically diverse and demographically stable. Tua and Sugi are both genetically important to the Sumatran orangutan population in the United States, so the new offspring is a significant contribution to the program. There are currently about 80 Sumatran orangutans in the U.S.

Orangutans are endangered in the wild on both Sumatra and Borneo. The newborn will be an ambassador for its wild cousins – helping the Zoo highlight the challenges facing these apes. The Philadelphia Zoo supports wild orangutans directly through its Footprints Program, by partnering with the Kinabatangan Forest Restoration Project to plant new habitat for orangutans in Borneo. To make a donation to Footprints or to ADOPT an orangutan, log on to philadelphiazoo.org.

About the Philadelphia Zoo:

The Philadelphia Zoo, America's first zoo, is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding. Chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1859, the Zoo is currently home to over 1,300 animals from around the world, many rare and endangered. Welcoming more than one million visitors each year from throughout the region and beyond, the Zoo serves children and families as a unique and engaging public resource for wildlife conservation and education. The Philadelphia Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.