Chester Zoo Baby Bornean Orangutan

taun

taun

Well-Known Member
Today I saw a baby bornean orangutan, I have tried to find out which orangutan the mum was but came away empty handed. (it definitely was not leia, and out of the other two females she looked older which would suggest Martha but a presenter said she was too old to breed :confused:).

Also I thought about taking my camera but decided not too because it still had all the snaps from Howletts :( So sorry no photo's.
 
Thats excellent news! I thought someone had said none were pregnant just last week? Will be interesting to know who the mother is.
 
Pt123 said:
Thats excellent news! I thought someone had said none were pregnant just last week? Will be interesting to know who the mother is.
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So did I, I was very surprised not only to see three Bornean Orangutans which are hardly seen nowadays at Chester but also a baby in-toe. :D
 
taun said:
Just need to work out who is the mum? I tried looking but with Hairy Orang ape (or what ever it was called :( ) gone I can't find any detail on the orangs.
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It's between Leia, Sarikei, Martha and Donna.

I doubt it is Donna, because she is still in quarantine I think, but they did mix the females with Tuan when he was in quarantine, so I don't think she is totally rules out

Martha is unlikely, but still possible

Sarikei is 26 and Leia is 13 and Sarikei has had one male offspring if I remember correctly.
 
taun said:
Pertinax, Is Martha the other really dark Bornean oragnutan?
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That is Martha
 
CZJimmy said:
It's between Leia, Sarikei, Martha and Donna.

I doubt it is Donna, because she is still in quarantine I think, but they did mix the females with Tuan when he was in quarantine, so I don't think she is totally rules out

Martha is unlikely, but still possible

Sarikei is 26 and Leia is 13 and Sarikei has had one male offspring if I remember correctly.
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That might explain it, I always thought Chesters Bornean orangutans to be very small and very dark in colour. However the female with the baby was alot bigger and lighter than the other Orangs.
 
CZJimmy said:
I doubt it is Donna, because she is still in quarantine I think, but they did mix the females with Tuan when he was in quarantine, so I don't think she is totally rules out
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Donna didn't arrive that long ago, did she(?) making her less likely unless of course she was already pregnant on arrival which is possible. On the other hand 'bigger & lighter' than the others sounds like one not related to the other 3....

Its good news anyway as with the lack of a breeding male for a long time, its their first Bornean baby for a good while.
 
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Pertinax said:
Donna didn't arrive that long ago, did she(?) making her less likely unless already pregnant on arrival.

CZJimmy's photo is 'Martha'. She's still a 'possible' but I reckon more likely its either Leia's or Sarikei's. Its good news anyway as with the lack of a breeding male for a long time, its their first Bornean baby for a good while.
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It definitely not Leia, they only one I can identify :p. Its what 13 years now since a baby Bornean Orang at chester?
 
I was the one who posted that none were pregnant. The information came from a presenter. Earlier in the year an ape section keeper also told me that none were pregnant, it seems the pregnancy was undetected. It's great news though. The last birth was Bengara in 1999
 
That's lovely news ...... but how likely do you think it be a genuine surprise, rather than a well kept secret ?! (though admittedly I can think of no reason to keep it quiet).

I seem to remember an old episode of MonkeyLife where the pregnancy of one of their orangs was confirmed by her having obviously protuding bumps down below. The keeper said this was clear to see and is only ever seen when they're pregnant. Would Chester keepers not have been keeping an eye out for such a sign once the girls had been mixed with Tuan ?
 
GillP said:
That's lovely news ...... but how likely do you think it be a genuine surprise, rather than a well kept secret ?! (though admittedly I can think of no reason to keep it quiet).

I seem to remember an old episode of MonkeyLife where the pregnancy of one of their orangs was confirmed by her having obviously protuding bumps down below. The keeper said this was clear to see and is only ever seen when they're pregnant. Would Chester keepers not have been keeping an eye out for such a sign once the girls had been mixed with Tuan ?
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Its not as clear cut as that and am sure they would of been looking out for signs. Emma & Subis gave birth which was a surprise to them and now another.
 
GillP said:
That's lovely news ...... but how likely do you think it be a genuine surprise, rather than a well kept secret ?! (though admittedly I can think of no reason to keep it quiet).

I seem to remember an old episode of MonkeyLife where the pregnancy of one of their orangs was confirmed by her having obviously protuding bumps down below. The keeper said this was clear to see and is only ever seen when they're pregnant. Would Chester keepers not have been keeping an eye out for such a sign once the girls had been mixed with Tuan ?
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It happened last year when the Sumatran Orang Emma gave birth to Indah. The keepers didn't have an idea she was pregnant until she gave birth (it was eventually featured on Zoo Days).

Could it be that Orangs are adept at hiding pregnancies much like animals are skilled at hiding illnesses (i.e. not displaying a weakness)?
 
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