WBIW.com News - state

Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana

An Endangered Sumatran Orangutan Born At Fort Wayne Zoo

Last updated on Thursday, November 27, 2014

(FORT WAYNE) - An endangered Sumatran orangutan has given birth to a female baby at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo.

Zookeepers expected 19-year-old Tara to give birth between mid-November and early December. She delivered a healthy female baby Saturday. The baby was first observed nursing Sunday morning.

Zoo officials say the baby is the only Sumatran orangutan born in a U.S. zoo in 2014. Zoo Animal Curator Mark Weldon says zoo officials are thrilled.

Zoo officials are cautiously optimistic about the baby's future. Because this is Tara's first baby and she has never observed another female caring for an infant, officials were concerned that she may not know how to care for the baby. But Weldon says Tara and the baby are doing well.

No name has yet been chosen.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Click here to go back to previous page