Posted by Elizabeth Bacher
In June we shared the happy news that, for the first time in 35 years, one of Woodland Park Zoo’s orangutans is pregnant and expecting a baby soon! Sumatran orangutan, Batu, is 14 years old and is due to give birth any day now. The father is 15-year-old Godek, who is also a Sumatran orangutan. This will be the first offspring for both of them.
Thirty-five-year-old male Heran and 43-year-old female Belawan (Bela) round out our orangutan group. They live in a separate but adjacent area from Godek and Batu.
Since making this exciting announcement, we have heard from many of you, offering well-wishes and asking for an update on how everything is going. So, without further ado, here are the answers to some of your questions, courtesy of our experts—orangutan keeper Laura McComesky and interim animal care manager Rachel Vass.
Question: First of all, how is Batu doing?
Answer: Batu is doing really well! Early on in her pregnancy she had a bit of a dip in her appetite (more on that later) but she is healthy and back to her normal self now.
Since this will be her first baby, how are we helping to make sure that Batu is ready for motherhood?
For great apes, such as orangutans and gorillas, one of the factors that influences readiness for motherhood is related to the mother-to-be's own history and personal experience. Batu has not been around a baby orangutan before, but she was raised by a very attentive, caring and gentle mother who she had a strong bond with during all of her “growing up” years, so she has that relationship experience to draw from. Batu’s intelligence, confidence, and independent personality were most certainly nurtured by her mother over many years and those qualities have allowed her to, as an adult, build a beautiful bond with her mate Godek. We believe her strong relationship with Godek in addition to her mother’s mentorship have equipped Batu for this significant period in her life.
Even so, we want to be prepared in case Batu needs our help with her baby. Our animal care team has designed a maternal skills training program for Batu that is tailored for a first-time mother. One scenario we need to prepare for is the newborn requiring bottle feeding. We are training Batu to retrieve objects, cuddle a burlap baby doll close to her chest, situate it higher or lower on her torso and allow a baby bottle to be placed on her breast through the mesh. Orangutans are very intelligent animals and we’re pleased how Batu is progressing with her maternal training. Batu is also being trained for voluntary (non-invasive) ultrasound exams without any need for anesthesia so that we can monitor her pregnancy.
Godek and Batu currently live together and seem quite bonded with each other. Will they stay together when the baby comes, and do we expect that Godek will have any paternal role in helping with a baby?
While female orangutans have an exceptionally strong bond with their young, caring for them for up to 8 years or more—just like Batu’s mother did with her—male orangutans play a very limited role. In the wild, orangutans do not typically live in family groups and males don’t help with raising babies at all. Adult males and females usually would only come together for breeding so a father might not even know about his offspring.
Some male orangutans in human care are totally hands off with babies, just like their wild counterparts— but a few of them are sort of “rewriting the script” for parenting and what an orangutan family looks like. For example, there is a male Sumatran orangutan at Denver Zoo named Berani who—much to the surprise of his animal care team there—took on the full duty of child-rearing after the mother of their 2-year-old youngster unexpectedly passed away! That baby is now 6 years old and is still very bonded to and looked after by her father, who keepers describe as a very caring and involved dad.
What are some of the similarities and differences between human and orangutan pregnancies?
Female orangutans have monthly cycles, just like humans do—and the gestation time from conception to birth is also the same, around 9 months.
One of the biggest differences is the interval or span of time between consecutive births. Orangutans have the longest interbirth interval of all the great apes (which includes gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and humans), only giving birth approximately once every eight years. And there’s a good reason for that.
Orangutan infants are fully reliant on moms for nursing for the first three years with initial stages of weaning taking place at 4-5 years old. They can start sampling solid foods at around a year or 2 years old (that includes chewing on whatever falls out of mom’s mouth that they can get their hands on) but they will still be reliant on nursing for the majority of their nutritional needs for the first four years. Supplemental nursing can continue until the youngster is 6-8 years old—even up to 9 years when comfort nursing is factored in.
That means that offspring will stay with their mothers for seven to nine years or even longer before venturing off to find their own territory. They need those developmental years to watch and learn from mom the important skills needed for survival, like where to find food, what to eat, how to eat it (sometimes this involves using special tools) and how to build a proper sleeping nest.
The solitary nature of orangutans in combination with resource scarcity in their native habitat makes it almost impossible for a mother to successfully raise more than one child at a time—so a female will not be receptive to mating again until her current offspring becomes independent. And until that time comes, she is completely invested in and devoted to their care.
Do pregnant orangutans experience symptoms like morning sickness or cravings of and aversions to certain foods?
As far as things like morning sickness or food aversions are concerned, Batu did show some signs that she wasn’t feeling well during her first two trimesters. There were several foods she has always enjoyed, like bananas for instance, that she was suddenly refusing to eat! And the same with watermelon. She wouldn’t eat it! She was “polite” about it but made her declaration of “no thank you” quite clear by slowly pushing it away from her. We had to get creative to find options that would be more palatable to her, mixing up the way we presented her meals and ordering some special produce items not on her “regular menu.” One example is an unusual fruit we found and offered to her called a horned melon or kiwano melon. It’s a spiny orange and green fruit in the cucumber and melon family that is native to the southern part of Africa. This uncommon fruit has a mild and slightly sweet flavor with a hint of banana and a cucumber-like taste and texture on the inside. Batu not only “accepted” this new item, she loved it and we felt good that it was a healthy and nutritious replacement for the other produce she wasn’t eating. Rice cakes and saltine crackers also became favorite snacks during this time. We suspect they probably helped settle her stomach.
Once Batu began her third trimester, all the signs of not feeling well were behind her and her appetite and interest in her regular diet returned to normal! She and Godek both have a daily menu that includes a wide and healthy variety of staple and rotational greens, berries, fruits and root vegetables. They also get a variety of nutritionally balanced biscuits made especially for great apes. The biscuits each have different smells and flavors including ones that give off a whiff of banana, one that smells like cinnamon and one that even smells like Froot Loops cereal. Of course, Batu has her preference of biscuits, too. She doesn’t care for the flavored ones so we special-order a particular kind for her that has all the same nutrients, but a much milder, even bland taste. (How do we know? We tried one, and it is definitely bland!) But if Batu likes it and it is good for her, that’s all that matters!
What do we expect regarding labor and birth of Batu’s baby? Will Godek be with her during that time?
It’s been more than three decades since we’ve needed to prepare for an orangutan birth. Heran, our other resident male who lives with Belawan, was the last orangutan born at Woodland Park Zoo in 1989. We are ready for this baby, and Batu is showing signs of being ready too. Her official “birth watch” begins August 16, and she will be monitored 24/7. Overnight, zoo volunteers will be able to watch Batu remotely on cams installed in her bedroom so they can look for any telltale signs that might indicate the onset of labor. An orangutan keeper will be on call to respond in case Batu goes into labor in the middle of the night; during the day, routine care for all the orangutans will continue as normal with an extra close watch on Batu when she’s in the outdoor habitat.
Once labor begins, the birthing process might go very quickly, or it could take several hours, especially for a first-time mother. It’s hard to say for sure. She will most likely be separated from Godek once this starts, so that she can labor privately and in peace. Batu and Godek are quite bonded, so the separation will continue as long as she needs it and as long as she lets us know that she is comfortable being away from him.
What will you and our veterinary staff be looking for in the first 24 to 72 hours after the baby is born—and why is that period so critical?
When the baby is born, we will want to see Batu pick them up and hold them close. We will watch for nursing, such as observing the infant’s physical condition for signs of dehydration (signs there might be problems with nursing), look at grip strength, and watch for defecation and urination. The first three days are critical in that the infant is so fragile and dependent on their mother, but the instincts for nursing and gripping should be apparent right away. Infants can’t regulate their own body temperature, so it is critical that the baby can grip onto mom and hold on as she moves, and that she is supporting the infant properly for body warmth.
If Godek is still separated from Batu at that time, we will slowly introduce him back in with her and the baby once we assess that infant is in good condition, and Batu is showing appropriate maternal behaviors.
Will the other orangutans, Heran and Bela (who live separately from Batu and Godek), know there is a baby? Can the two groups see each other?
They can see and smell each other from their separate areas, so yes, we’re sure they will know there is a baby. The level of interest they have in what’s happening “next door” remains to be seen.
If everything goes smoothly how soon would our guests be able to see Batu and her new baby? What could they expect to see?
Batu and her baby will initially have access to their indoor areas—including behind-the-scenes bedrooms and areas that are usually public but will likely be closed off for a bit to give mom and baby some privacy as they bond. They won’t have outdoor access until the baby is a little older and has more muscle control—plus the weather needs to be warm enough for the baby. Whether guests will be able to get a peek at the new family just depends on how the bonding process goes and where Batu chooses to spend her time. Whether it’s a few days, or a little longer, the baby will likely be very small and hard to see, but guests should look for a hairy red little “bump” clinging to Batu’s chest or belly.
We are all very excited to see the future unfold for Batu, Godek and their baby!
About Orangutans
There are three species of orangutans that are found only in Southeast Asia: the Bornean orangutan native to the island of Borneo, and Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans native to the island of Sumatra. A critically endangered species, orangutans belong to the family Hominidae, which includes all five great apes: gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and humans.
Orangutans face threats including habitat loss and fragmentation due to forest fires, logging, and conversion to unsustainable monocultures, such as palm oil plantations. Habitat loss is also projected to be exacerbated with climate change. Additionally, these animals are illegally hunted for meat and in response to human-wildlife conflict.
You can help endangered orangutans
A portion of every visit and membership to Woodland Park Zoo supports saving wildlife in the Pacific Northwest and around the world including protecting orangutans. The zoo supports HUTAN Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Program and Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program.
For sweet occasions, use this treat shopping guide to help save forests and wildlife, such as orangutans, a world away: www.zoo.org/palmoil. The list features companies that are committed to sourcing certified sustainable palm oil that is deforestation free.
Become a ZooParent and help Woodland Park Zoo provide exceptional care for all its amazing animals and support wildlife conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.
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| Beautiful Batu is preparing to become a mother! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
In June we shared the happy news that, for the first time in 35 years, one of Woodland Park Zoo’s orangutans is pregnant and expecting a baby soon! Sumatran orangutan, Batu, is 14 years old and is due to give birth any day now. The father is 15-year-old Godek, who is also a Sumatran orangutan. This will be the first offspring for both of them.
Thirty-five-year-old male Heran and 43-year-old female Belawan (Bela) round out our orangutan group. They live in a separate but adjacent area from Godek and Batu.
Since making this exciting announcement, we have heard from many of you, offering well-wishes and asking for an update on how everything is going. So, without further ado, here are the answers to some of your questions, courtesy of our experts—orangutan keeper Laura McComesky and interim animal care manager Rachel Vass.
 |
| Beautiful Batu is eating her greens and getting ready to have a baby! Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
Question: First of all, how is Batu doing?
Answer: Batu is doing really well! Early on in her pregnancy she had a bit of a dip in her appetite (more on that later) but she is healthy and back to her normal self now.
Since this will be her first baby, how are we helping to make sure that Batu is ready for motherhood?
For great apes, such as orangutans and gorillas, one of the factors that influences readiness for motherhood is related to the mother-to-be's own history and personal experience. Batu has not been around a baby orangutan before, but she was raised by a very attentive, caring and gentle mother who she had a strong bond with during all of her “growing up” years, so she has that relationship experience to draw from. Batu’s intelligence, confidence, and independent personality were most certainly nurtured by her mother over many years and those qualities have allowed her to, as an adult, build a beautiful bond with her mate Godek. We believe her strong relationship with Godek in addition to her mother’s mentorship have equipped Batu for this significant period in her life.
 |
| Batu, seen here as a baby being cuddled by her mom, Tua, at Philadelphia Zoo. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo |
 |
| Godek, seen here as a handsome youngster at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where he was born and raised. Photo: Max Block |
Even so, we want to be prepared in case Batu needs our help with her baby. Our animal care team has designed a maternal skills training program for Batu that is tailored for a first-time mother. One scenario we need to prepare for is the newborn requiring bottle feeding. We are training Batu to retrieve objects, cuddle a burlap baby doll close to her chest, situate it higher or lower on her torso and allow a baby bottle to be placed on her breast through the mesh. Orangutans are very intelligent animals and we’re pleased how Batu is progressing with her maternal training. Batu is also being trained for voluntary (non-invasive) ultrasound exams without any need for anesthesia so that we can monitor her pregnancy.
Godek and Batu currently live together and seem quite bonded with each other. Will they stay together when the baby comes, and do we expect that Godek will have any paternal role in helping with a baby?
While female orangutans have an exceptionally strong bond with their young, caring for them for up to 8 years or more—just like Batu’s mother did with her—male orangutans play a very limited role. In the wild, orangutans do not typically live in family groups and males don’t help with raising babies at all. Adult males and females usually would only come together for breeding so a father might not even know about his offspring.
Some male orangutans in human care are totally hands off with babies, just like their wild counterparts— but a few of them are sort of “rewriting the script” for parenting and what an orangutan family looks like. For example, there is a male Sumatran orangutan at Denver Zoo named Berani who—much to the surprise of his animal care team there—took on the full duty of child-rearing after the mother of their 2-year-old youngster unexpectedly passed away! That baby is now 6 years old and is still very bonded to and looked after by her father, who keepers describe as a very caring and involved dad.
%20and%20Godek%20(R)_ovi%20(1).jpg) |
| Batu (l) and Godek (r) have a wonderful relationship. You can see the flanges (fleshy cheek pads) that are growing on Godek's face—a sign of male maturity. He is more serious now than as a youngster, but no less attentive to his mate, Batu. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
As for our resident “parents-to-be”, any involvement from Godek will depend on his behavior and interest in the baby, and how willing Batu is to let him interact with it. Godek is going through a change currently as he is developing into a fully-flanged male (flanges, also known as "cheek pads," are the large fleshy pads that grow on the face of a sexually mature male orangutan.) He is more serious now that this change is occurring and a little less playful than when he was a youngster, but his bond with Batu has not been diminished by his growth and maturity! He is extremely intelligent, very observant, a great problem solver, handsome, very attentive to Batu and a great nest builder! It has been absolutely wonderful to watch him with Batu over the last three years! Their relationship is very strong and his attentiveness to Batu is extraordinary! Only time will tell how involved he might be with his and Batu’s baby.
What are some of the similarities and differences between human and orangutan pregnancies?
Female orangutans have monthly cycles, just like humans do—and the gestation time from conception to birth is also the same, around 9 months.
One of the biggest differences is the interval or span of time between consecutive births. Orangutans have the longest interbirth interval of all the great apes (which includes gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and humans), only giving birth approximately once every eight years. And there’s a good reason for that.
 |
| Batu lived with her mother, Tua, at Philadelphia Zoo for more than a decade, learning the skills needed for adulthood before she was mature enough to be on her own—just like in the wild. Photo: Max Block |
Orangutan infants are fully reliant on moms for nursing for the first three years with initial stages of weaning taking place at 4-5 years old. They can start sampling solid foods at around a year or 2 years old (that includes chewing on whatever falls out of mom’s mouth that they can get their hands on) but they will still be reliant on nursing for the majority of their nutritional needs for the first four years. Supplemental nursing can continue until the youngster is 6-8 years old—even up to 9 years when comfort nursing is factored in.
That means that offspring will stay with their mothers for seven to nine years or even longer before venturing off to find their own territory. They need those developmental years to watch and learn from mom the important skills needed for survival, like where to find food, what to eat, how to eat it (sometimes this involves using special tools) and how to build a proper sleeping nest.
 |
| Batu and her mother Tua (seen here holding hands) shared a close bond for many years before Batu showed signs she was ready to be on her own. Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo. |
The solitary nature of orangutans in combination with resource scarcity in their native habitat makes it almost impossible for a mother to successfully raise more than one child at a time—so a female will not be receptive to mating again until her current offspring becomes independent. And until that time comes, she is completely invested in and devoted to their care.
Do pregnant orangutans experience symptoms like morning sickness or cravings of and aversions to certain foods?
As far as things like morning sickness or food aversions are concerned, Batu did show some signs that she wasn’t feeling well during her first two trimesters. There were several foods she has always enjoyed, like bananas for instance, that she was suddenly refusing to eat! And the same with watermelon. She wouldn’t eat it! She was “polite” about it but made her declaration of “no thank you” quite clear by slowly pushing it away from her. We had to get creative to find options that would be more palatable to her, mixing up the way we presented her meals and ordering some special produce items not on her “regular menu.” One example is an unusual fruit we found and offered to her called a horned melon or kiwano melon. It’s a spiny orange and green fruit in the cucumber and melon family that is native to the southern part of Africa. This uncommon fruit has a mild and slightly sweet flavor with a hint of banana and a cucumber-like taste and texture on the inside. Batu not only “accepted” this new item, she loved it and we felt good that it was a healthy and nutritious replacement for the other produce she wasn’t eating. Rice cakes and saltine crackers also became favorite snacks during this time. We suspect they probably helped settle her stomach.
 |
| Horned melons, or kiwano melons, were one of the special fruits that Batu was able to eat when showing signs of morning sickness early in her pregnancy. Photo: Elizabeth Bacher/Woodland Park Zoo |
 |
| Horned melons, sometimes called kiwano melons are fleshy and green on the inside with a mild, cucumber-like taste. Photo: Eric Weisser/Flicker https://www.flickr.com/photos/63601558@N00/ |
Once Batu began her third trimester, all the signs of not feeling well were behind her and her appetite and interest in her regular diet returned to normal! She and Godek both have a daily menu that includes a wide and healthy variety of staple and rotational greens, berries, fruits and root vegetables. They also get a variety of nutritionally balanced biscuits made especially for great apes. The biscuits each have different smells and flavors including ones that give off a whiff of banana, one that smells like cinnamon and one that even smells like Froot Loops cereal. Of course, Batu has her preference of biscuits, too. She doesn’t care for the flavored ones so we special-order a particular kind for her that has all the same nutrients, but a much milder, even bland taste. (How do we know? We tried one, and it is definitely bland!) But if Batu likes it and it is good for her, that’s all that matters!
What do we expect regarding labor and birth of Batu’s baby? Will Godek be with her during that time?
It’s been more than three decades since we’ve needed to prepare for an orangutan birth. Heran, our other resident male who lives with Belawan, was the last orangutan born at Woodland Park Zoo in 1989. We are ready for this baby, and Batu is showing signs of being ready too. Her official “birth watch” begins August 16, and she will be monitored 24/7. Overnight, zoo volunteers will be able to watch Batu remotely on cams installed in her bedroom so they can look for any telltale signs that might indicate the onset of labor. An orangutan keeper will be on call to respond in case Batu goes into labor in the middle of the night; during the day, routine care for all the orangutans will continue as normal with an extra close watch on Batu when she’s in the outdoor habitat.
Once labor begins, the birthing process might go very quickly, or it could take several hours, especially for a first-time mother. It’s hard to say for sure. She will most likely be separated from Godek once this starts, so that she can labor privately and in peace. Batu and Godek are quite bonded, so the separation will continue as long as she needs it and as long as she lets us know that she is comfortable being away from him.
 |
| Batu as an infant ... those eyes! Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Zoo. |
What will you and our veterinary staff be looking for in the first 24 to 72 hours after the baby is born—and why is that period so critical?
When the baby is born, we will want to see Batu pick them up and hold them close. We will watch for nursing, such as observing the infant’s physical condition for signs of dehydration (signs there might be problems with nursing), look at grip strength, and watch for defecation and urination. The first three days are critical in that the infant is so fragile and dependent on their mother, but the instincts for nursing and gripping should be apparent right away. Infants can’t regulate their own body temperature, so it is critical that the baby can grip onto mom and hold on as she moves, and that she is supporting the infant properly for body warmth.
If Godek is still separated from Batu at that time, we will slowly introduce him back in with her and the baby once we assess that infant is in good condition, and Batu is showing appropriate maternal behaviors.
Will the other orangutans, Heran and Bela (who live separately from Batu and Godek), know there is a baby? Can the two groups see each other?
They can see and smell each other from their separate areas, so yes, we’re sure they will know there is a baby. The level of interest they have in what’s happening “next door” remains to be seen.
If everything goes smoothly how soon would our guests be able to see Batu and her new baby? What could they expect to see?
Batu and her baby will initially have access to their indoor areas—including behind-the-scenes bedrooms and areas that are usually public but will likely be closed off for a bit to give mom and baby some privacy as they bond. They won’t have outdoor access until the baby is a little older and has more muscle control—plus the weather needs to be warm enough for the baby. Whether guests will be able to get a peek at the new family just depends on how the bonding process goes and where Batu chooses to spend her time. Whether it’s a few days, or a little longer, the baby will likely be very small and hard to see, but guests should look for a hairy red little “bump” clinging to Batu’s chest or belly.
We are all very excited to see the future unfold for Batu, Godek and their baby!
 |
| Batu and Godek like to cuddle and can often be seen sharing a hammock and blankets. Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo |
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About Orangutans
There are three species of orangutans that are found only in Southeast Asia: the Bornean orangutan native to the island of Borneo, and Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans native to the island of Sumatra. A critically endangered species, orangutans belong to the family Hominidae, which includes all five great apes: gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and humans.
Orangutans face threats including habitat loss and fragmentation due to forest fires, logging, and conversion to unsustainable monocultures, such as palm oil plantations. Habitat loss is also projected to be exacerbated with climate change. Additionally, these animals are illegally hunted for meat and in response to human-wildlife conflict.
You can help endangered orangutans
A portion of every visit and membership to Woodland Park Zoo supports saving wildlife in the Pacific Northwest and around the world including protecting orangutans. The zoo supports HUTAN Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Program and Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program.
For sweet occasions, use this treat shopping guide to help save forests and wildlife, such as orangutans, a world away: www.zoo.org/palmoil. The list features companies that are committed to sourcing certified sustainable palm oil that is deforestation free.
Become a ZooParent and help Woodland Park Zoo provide exceptional care for all its amazing animals and support wildlife conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.
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