One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LA Zoo welcomes first baby orangutan in 15 years
The unnamed baby boy was born was just weeks ago.
(
Courtesy L.A. Zoo
)
Topline:
Los Angeles Zoo staff have a new infant on their hands. An orangutan baby boy has made his debut at the zoo after just weeks out of the womb.
About the baby: The little boy was born Oct. 10 to 43-year-old mom Kalim and 31-year-old dad Isim. The new ape is part of the Bornean orangutan family, which spend about 90% of their time in trees. The orangutans are also categorized as “critically endangered” because of climate change and human behavior, according to the zoo.
Why so long? The little guy is the zoo’s first new orangutan in 15 years. These apes have the longest intervals between births of all non-human primates. A mother gives birth once every seven to eight years because they spend time teaching their young how to survive.
See the baby: If you want to get a peak at the little one, you’re in luck. Zoo visitors can visit the baby while he bonds with his mother at the Red Ape Rain Forest exhibit.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
