Baby Orangutan Debuts at Philadelphia Zoo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Philadelphia Zoo has introduced its newest resident, Jambi, a baby male Sumatran orangutan, who made his public debut after a three-and-a-half-week bonding period with his mother, Tua. Born in June, Jambi was named after a city on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. On Wednesday, the pair was encouraged into their outdoor habitat at the PECO Primate Reserve, which also houses gorillas, gibbons, and lemurs, with the help of food and an ice cake. The zoo has emphasized that Jambi and Tua will continue to dictate their own schedule, having access to both indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as a private bedroom. This flexibility means that some visitors may have already caught a glimpse of the mother-son duo prior to their official debut. Jambi's arrival is not just a heartwarming event; it represents a significant achievement in conservation efforts for Sumatran orangutans, a critically endangered species. With only about 14,000 individuals remaining in the wild, the birth of Jambi is crucial for the species' survival. The Philadelphia Zoo is participating in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP) breeding program, aimed at ensuring a genetically diverse population of Sumatran orangutans. This marks the first successful birth of a Sumatran orangutan at the Philadelphia Zoo in 15 years, highlighting the zoo's commitment to wildlife conservation and education.