Leia’s a mum… again! Critically endangered orangutan gives birth at Chester Zoo
Keepers are delighted that a critically endangered orangutan has been born at a UK zoo, describing it as a ‘landmark step’ towards saving the species from extinction.
The tiny Bornean orangutan was born at Chester Zoo on October 7 after her mother Leia gave birth to the little animal after an eight-and-a-half month pregnancy.
New photos reveal the newborn clinging to his mother as he explores his new habitat in Cheshire.
The birth is part of an international conservation breeding program aimed at helping the species reproduce.
Primates Assistant Team Manager Chris Yarwood said: ‘Leia is a fantastic mother.
‘She is extremely attentive and spent the first few days holding her baby close, feeding him regularly and establishing a really strong maternal bond.
‘It is a great privilege to witness.
‘The baby is still small and we haven’t determined the gender yet, but the important thing is that he is healthy and Leia is doing a great job as we know.
The tiny Bornean orangutan was born at Chester Zoo on October 7 after his mother Leia gave birth to him after eight-and-a-half months of pregnancy.
New photos reveal newborn baby clinging to mum as she explores new habitat in Cheshire
‘Any birth of a Bornean orangutan is incredibly special given how threatened the species is.
‘It’s an important step forward for international conservation efforts working to prevent this iconic animal from disappearing forever.’
The newborn is Leia’s third baby after she surprised caregivers in 2020 by giving birth after returning a negative pregnancy test.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, Northwest Borneo orangutans are the most threatened subspecies, and all three species are critically endangered.
Logging and hunting are major factors that have seriously affected the natural habitat of Borneo orangutans, of which there are only around 105,000 remaining.
Environmentalists estimate that more than 40 percent of it has disappeared since 2000, where palm oil production and agricultural expansion are also crimes.
The only place in the UK where you can find the Sumatran and Bornean orangutan is Chester Zoo.
Cat Barton, Anti-Deforestation Commodity Policy Lead, said Chester Zoo has been working in partnership with Borneo for over 20 years to protect wild orangutan populations, restore rainforest habitats and tackle the root causes of deforestation.
Primates Assistant Team Manager Chris Yarwood said: ‘Leia is a fantastic mum. ‘She is extremely careful and spent the first few days holding her baby close, feeding her regularly and establishing a really strong maternal bond.’
Chester Zoo has not yet determined the gender of its newborn Bornean orangutan. The zoo said any birth of a Bornean orangutan is incredibly special, given how threatened the species is.
‘Through long-term initiatives such as wildlife corridors, community engagement and human-wildlife conflict reduction, we have supported efforts that have helped the area where we work – Kinabatangan – be recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
‘This is a huge milestone for our partners at HUTAN and for global conservation.
‘Closer to home, we continue to advocate for the use of sustainably sourced palm oil, encouraging individuals and businesses to make better choices that protect rainforests and the countless species that depend on them.
‘With palm oil found in so many everyday products, from biscuits to shampoo, choosing certified sustainable options is one of the simplest and most powerful actions people can take to help wildlife, including orangutans like Leia’s baby.’
