It’s always a great day for a zoo when a baby animal is born, especially when that animal is part of a critically endangered species. Each new arrival is a step towards ensuring the species’ future survival.
And one recent birth was truly remarkable, as a critically endangered Bornean orangutan was delivered via a rare c-section.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay got exciting news when they discovered their Bornean orangutan, Luna, was pregnant. Throughout her pregnancy, they continued to monitor her health to make sure she and her baby were healthy.
On April 13, during a routine ultrasound, they discovered that Luna’s baby wasn’t in the right position for her to be born naturally, a curator explained in a video.
Since Luna was coming up on her due date, the team decided that the best course of action would be to deliver the baby via c-section.
C-sections, in which babies are delivered through an incision in the mother’s abdomen, are common in human births but rarely performed on primates. However, our reproductive biological similarities mean the procedure is largely the same.
The surgery was a success, and Luna and her baby are both stable. According to AP, the newborn weighed just over 3 pounds, and Luna is now recuperating; she will reportedly be reunited with her baby soon.
On top of these unusual circumstances, Busch Gardens said the birth was a “milestone in orangutan conservation efforts.” The Bornean orangutan is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, long threatened by habitat destruction and deforestation. Busch Gardens participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan.
What a beautiful newborn orangutan! Thank you to everyone who worked so hard on safely delivering this baby under unusual circumstances.
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