Brownsville, Texas (August 8, 2023) – Gladys Porter Zoo team of workers are delighted to announce that Dodie, the Zoo’s 46-year-old Sumatran orangutan, gave delivery to a wholesome child woman on July 19 at 3:00 a.m. Each mother and child are doing smartly. At this time, they are able to be noticed in combination on show off between 9:00 and 10:30 am. Their time outdoor shall be progressively higher because the new child adapts to out of doors temperatures.
That is Dodie’s fourth child. She is an skilled and attentive mom so she simply transitioned into her new maternal tasks. The daddy is Mango, a 31-year-old Sumatran orangutan who got here to us on a breeding mortgage from the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina, Kansas. Dodie could also be the mummy of Kade, a young person feminine, who right now is living right here with Dodie, Mango and the brand new child.
For now, as Dodie and her offspring are organising a powerful bond, Kade has briefly been limited from complete get entry to to the infant. Within the coming days, team of workers will progressively permit Kade to get totally familiar, giving her a guarded alternative to step into her essential new function as large sister.
“Kade, like many youngsters, confirmed a little of jealousy when Dodie first gave delivery,” mentioned Walter DuPree, the Zoo’s Curator of Mammals. “So, we have been slightly occupied with giving her complete get entry to to her mom and the newborn. We didn’t see aggression, however have been occupied with mischief. Kade now appears to be adjusting to the arriving of her little sister, and it shouldn’t be lengthy sooner than Dodie, Kade, and the infant shall be a circle of relatives unit.”
Within the wild, feminine youth will lend a hand their moms take care of younger. Within the procedure, they be informed essential maternal abilities which can be of serious get advantages once they later have to lift their very own young children. Orangutans are one of the maximum devoted moms within the animal kingdom. Within the wild, younger orangutans will stick with their moms for as much as seven years, as they be informed the abilities they wish to continue to exist on their very own. This comprises the place to seek out meals, learn how to construct nests, and learn how to elevate younger.
The Gladys Porter Zoo has had a protracted historical past with orangutans. In its 52-year historical past, there were 25 a hit orangutan births. The Zoo was once the primary on document to accomplish a cesarean segment on a really perfect ape. The ancient process was once achieved on a feminine orangutan in 1970 by way of an area obstetrician and the past due Don Farst, DVM, the Zoo’s earlier veterinarian, after which, director.
Sumatran orangutans are indexed as Significantly Endangered by way of the World Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Crimson Listing of Threatened Species. Their biggest danger is habitat loss due large-scale conversion of woodland to palm oil plantations, industrial logging, and farming.