UPDATE (August 25, 2023):
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – A baby orangutan has died at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo.
Officials say the orangutan was born on August 16 and a necropsy will be done to determine the cause of death.
Director of Animal Health and Conservation Dr. Kami Fox says the orangutan’s mother, Tara, “provided excellent care to her young baby and was an incredibly attentive mother,” and adds Tara felt comfortable showing her baby to the Animal Care Team.
The FW Children’s Zoo representatives released the following:
The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (FWCZ) is mourning the loss of a baby orangutan born August 16.
FWCZ announced the baby orangutan’s passing on Facebook Thursday evening. With the announcement, the zoo’s team said Tara, the mother of the baby, will not be on exhibit for the time being.
“Tara provided excellent care to her young baby and was an incredibly attentive mother. As a testament to the trust between Tara and her care team, she even felt comfortable showing her baby to the Animal Care Team with protected contact,” explained Dr. Kami Fox, Director of Animal Health and Conservation.
We are heartbroken to announce that the baby orangutan born on August 16 has passed away. His time at the Zoo will be cherished, especially by his Animal Care Team.
“The Animal Care Team and Veterinary Staff have worked hard over the last week providing mom and baby the best possible care and are heartbroken over his unexpected death,” said Executive Director, Rick Schuiteman. “Although we’ve only had a few days with our orangutan baby, he brought so much joy and excitement. He will be missed.”
“Tara provided excellent care to her young baby and was an incredibly attentive mother. As a testament to the trust between Tara and her care team, she even felt comfortable showing her baby to the Animal Care Team with protected contact,” explains Dr. Kami Fox, Director of Animal Health and Conservation.
Alongside her Animal Care Team, Tara grieves over the loss of her baby. Until she is ready, guests may not see Tara on exhibit. “We appreciate the support of our community as we grieve this loss.” says Rick Schuiteman. A necropsy (animal autopsy) will be performed to determine the cause of death.
UPDATE (August 23, 2023):
There is more good news from the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo regarding their newest resident.
On Tuesday, zoo officials said that their orangutan Tara is doing well after giving birth last week and even brought her new baby boy to get a check-up!
The following was released along with this adorable photo:
Orangutan updates! “Tara continues to recover well behind the scenes and is enjoying bonding with her little one. With the baby bundled in her arms, she has chosen to bring the baby to her Animal Care Team to introduce him and allow the team to inspect him as well. The baby boy is bright, alert, and nursing well! Introductions to the rest of the group are still slowly under way as we continue to offer these two space behind the scenes”, said Keeper Angie
ORIGINAL STORY:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Tara, a 28-year-old orangutan welcomed a healthy little boy on Wednesday, August 16 at 11:13 pm.
“We are overjoyed to welcome another baby orangutan at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. This marks the zoo’s third orangutan birth and the second male orangutan since 2006,” said Dr. Kami Fox, Director of Animal Health & Conservation. “Tara and baby are doing well, and we are happy to see them bonding behind the scenes.”
Zoo representatives released the following:
Our Animal Care Team and Veterinary Staff have been watching Tara by remote camera overnight for several weeks. When keepers observed Tara pacing late Wednesday in her off-exhibit bedroom, they suspected she was in labor and arrived at the zoo to monitor the birth. Tara’s labor lasted a few hours, and she delivered her baby unassisted.
Immediately following the delivery, Tara began cleaning her infant and placed it in her nest – a pile of wood wool and blankets – where she sleeps at night. The baby was first observed nursing within 90 minutes.
No name has yet been chosen for the baby. While baby and Tara bond behind the scenes, in the upcoming weeks and months, the orangutan habitat will undergo a great deal of baby proofing to create a safe space for the little one to grow. Zoo guests can expect to see bales of straw covering the floor, lower hanging vines, and may notice not all the orangutans out in their exhibit, as introductions and family bonding time happen behind the scenes.
Orangutans are pregnant for an average of 245 days, or a little over eight months. The baby’s father is Tengku, the Zoo’s 37-year-old male orangutan, who arrived in Fort Wayne in 1995.
The breeding of Tara with Tengku was recommended by the Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP), a program of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums that seeks to maintain genetic diversity within populations of endangered animals. Tara arrived in Fort Wayne in 2013 from the Columbus Zoo. Megan Elder of Como Zoo, the International Orangutan Studbook Keeper,
For more from the Zoo, click here
