Orangutan Gives Birth On Film For First Time Ever And Shows Baby To Zookeeper

Oct 21, 2021

In 2013, the Durrel Wildlife Conservation Trust captured stunning footage of a Sumatran orangutan.

Orangutans are curious members of the ape family. People often think of them as being stoic and aloof. Maybe that's because they look a little older than other apes, and they weren't portrayed with much flattery in the original “Planet of the Apes.”

Once people see how orangutans act in the wild and at zoos, perceptions may change, however. One orangutan found herself to be a new mother, and her reaction shows orangutans have a heart.

Dana is a special orangutan, one who may become famous in zoological history. In 2013 Dana gave birth in captivity, and the birth ended up recorded on video. The birth represents the first-ever orangutan birth recorded on video.

Anyone interested in seeing footage of Dana, the 25-year-old Sumatran orangutan, can view documentary footage available from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust. Dana's life is an interesting one, as she was once deemed infertile. Animal doctors addressed a problem with her fallopian tubes. Not only did she then conceive and give birth, but she also made history.

Handlers did not become involved with the baby's birth. Dana gave birth by herself and then cleaned the newborn infant. Although the birth took place in captivity, the events carried out as if Dana remained in the wild. Something happened afterward that certainly would never occur in the animal kingdom.

Dana held the baby in her arms and walked over to the human observers. As you can see in the below video, she then proudly displayed her baby for all to see. 

Maybe Dana considers her human friends part of the family.

The humans gave the baby orangutan a name: Keajaiban, and they call her "Kea" for short. Keajaiban, by the way, means "miracle." The little girl's birth is part of an ongoing miracle. People are hard at work trying to save Sumatran orangutans from extinction. Sadly, there are very few of these beautiful creatures in the wild. Organizations like the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust continue to try and preserve their existence.

While many wish these creatures could live a full existence in the wild, that's not always possible. Human encroachment, poaching, environmental issues and other factors contribute to the eventual extinction of many species.

Caring humanitarian and conservational organizations do their part to help animals in trouble. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust does a lot for orangutans, and Dana showed her appreciation and affection for their efforts.

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), orangutans are a critically endangered species, with a population of around 120,000 across the globe. While that might sound like a lot, a century ago there would have likely been around 230,000. Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans are the most endangered, with populations of 13,846 and 800, respectively. The vast majority of orangutans are Bornean, whose population is around 100,000. But even Bornean orangutans are considered endangered and have experienced sharp declines in population. 

“Though they once thrived in healthy jungles from Indonesia to China, wild orangutans, which are among the rarest and the most intelligent of the great apes, are now limited to the rain forests of two Southeast Asian islands: Borneo and Sumatra,” Matt Stirn writes in a piece of The New York Times.

“Mainly because of habitat destruction — in the form of mining, logging and the highly destructive practices of the palm oil industry — their populations have dwindled.”

In May, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Ohio welcomed a male Bornean orangutan, the institution’s first successful orangutan birth in seven years.

To raise money for the zoo, it asked the public to donate under one of three names up for consideration. In July, the zoo announced that they had named the baby Zaki, which means “pure.”

“We’re thrilled to announce the birth of our new male orangutan, who will serve as an important ambassador for the decreasing number of Bornean orangutans in the wild,” said Cleveland Metroparks Zoo executive director Chris Kuhar, according to Spectrum News. “By helping to name the orangutan, we hope to inspire a closer connection and appreciation for orangutans and the critical threats the species face in the wild.”

According to the zoo, orangutan populations have decreased by 50% in the wild over the last 15 years, which is largely due to deforestation. And since 1903, the species’ population has declined by an astounding 97%.

Organizations like the WWF and Durrel Wildlife Conservation Trust are doing their best to reverse that trend. In Sumatra, the Orangutan Information Centre (O.I.C.) is also doing its part by rescuing injured orangutans, educating the public about the animals and rehabilitating animals. 

Videos like the one below might also do their part, as they raise awareness surrounding these majestic and human-like creatures. 

As one YouTube viewer points out, “​​They're not much different than we as humans are.”

What do you think of this rare video? Have you ever seen an orangutan in person? Let us know — and be sure to pass this story on to fellow animal lovers.