This beautiful newborn was fathered by Sibu, Dublin Zoo’s beloved orangutan patriarch, who sadly passed away in February. On the 31st of July, Dublin Zoo’s 19-year-old orangutan, Mujur, gave birth to a healthy male infant. Dublin Zoo has held maternal workshops with the help of 30 breastfeeding mothers to show a pregnant orangutan how to feed her infant.
19-year-old orangutan, Mujur, recently gave birth to a healthy male infant whose father is Sibu, Dublin Zoo’s beloved orangutan patriarch, who sadly passed away in February. Mujur has previously given birth to two infants, in 2019 and 2022. For the first three years of an orangutan infant’s life, they are completely dependent on their mother for food and transportation.
But Mujur did not exhibit the necessary maternal qualities and both infants passed away not long after birth. In preparation for the birth of this newborn, Dublin Zoo has been working with Mujur for months, leaving no stone unturned to give her the best chance possible to develop necessary maternal qualities. They put a call out for volunteers from lactation groups in Dublin and surrounding areas and began a lactation learning process.
Over the past few months, 30 women have been taking turns to breastfeed their infants in front of the pregnant Mujur. Mujur was interested in watching the women feed their babies through the glass, and even mirroring some of their actions. On the 31st of July, Dublin Zoo’s 19-year-old orangutan, Mujur, gave birth to a .