An Orangutan family living inside the Los Angeles Zoo has welcomed a new baby boy, the first infant to be born at the zoo in nearly 15 years.
The baby was born on Oct. 10 to Kalim, his 43-year-old mother, and Isim, his 31-year-old dad, according to the LA Zoo. This is the first offspring between the couple. Kalim has given birth to two orangutans before the new baby.
“Watching the orangutan group interact with the infant will be truly special, and we’re excited for our guests to experience the joy of watching our growing orangutan family,” said Candace Sclimenti, mammal curator at the zoo.
LA Zoo
LA Zoo
LA Zoo
Unlike other animals, orangutans take time to have babies. Once an infant is born, its mother typically spends seven to eight years to care for the offspring, teaching lessons like how to avoid predators and what food to eat,
“Of all non-human primates, orangutans have the longest interbirth interval,” the zoo said.
Before the new baby boy was born, Kalim, the mother, spent 14 years raising her offspring, named Elka, the zoo explained.
The LA Zoo is home to Bornean orangutans, the world’s largest arboreal mammals. The orangutans, who share 97% of their DNA with humans, spend most of their time in trees.
Guests can see Kalim and her new baby boy bonding together at the zoo’s Red Ape Rain Forest exhibit, weather permitting, the zoo said.