Newborn orangutan dies at Philadelphia Zoo
The male Sumatran orangutan was born Sunday afternoon, but was found unresponsive Monday morning. A preliminary examination indicated he died of a congenital heart defect.
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An infant Sumatran orangutan has died just hours after being born at the Philadelphia Zoo.
The male orangutan, born about 2:45 p.m. Sunday, "looked strong" and had a "good grip," but didn't survive overnight, said Andy Baker, the zoo's chief operating officer.
A preliminary examination indicates the baby's lungs were very congested and filled with fluid, suggesting he had a congenital heart defect, Baker said Tuesday. Zoo authorities are awaiting the results of a necropsy for the official cause of death.
The baby weighed about four pounds, which is a "good weight for a baby orangutan," said Baker. He was considered to be full-term even though the birth wasn't expected to be until late July or early August.
The baby was born to mother Tua, 24, and father, Sugi, 21. They also have a daughter, Batu, 7. The three are the only Sumatran orangutans at the Philadelphia Zoo and live in the Peco Primate Reserve.
The male baby was born without any zoo intervention. "Tua is an experienced mom," said Baker. "She did a great job with her daughter, Batu."
There was no evidence of anything wrong when the baby went to sleep Sunday night. In the morning, at first check, Tua was still holding the baby, but "the baby did not look responsive or active," Baker said.
"There's every evidence that animals go through mourning or grief. Just like us, it's probably very individual," said Baker, who noted that the parents seem OK, so far.
Sumatran orangutans are considered a critically endangered species, according to the World Wildlife Fund. They are native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Tua and Sugi were both born in U.S. zoos.
"It's not a great time for great apes," said Baker, who said the zoo has for a number of years been advocating the use of "deforestation-free" palm oil.
The public can help by asking companies to be more transparent on how they source their palm oil and by thanking companies that buy environmentally friendly palm oil, he said. To learn more about the issue, visit the zoo's UNLESS Project on its website.