Critically Endangered Orangutan Only Hours Old Holds Mum At World’s Oldest Zoo

Zookeepers at the oldest zoo in the world have captured the incredible moment a critically endangered orangutan baby holds tightly to its mum just hours after it was born.

The adorable snaps show the newborn Bornean orangutan cuddled up in its mother’s arms at the Schoenbrunn Zoo located in the city of Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, 7th June.

The little one is reportedly the second critically endangered orangutan born at the zoo in recent years, after zookeepers welcomed the first one in 20 years on 19th June last year.

Spokesperson and social media managed at the zoo Carmen Helmreich, told Newsflash: “Yesterday [6th June], almost a year after the last breeding success, the group expanded again.

“In the early afternoon, a young animal saw the light of day. It is the first cub that the female orangutan has ever cared for.

“But of course, the first few days are always critical. Fingers crossed that everything goes well!”

The next day (7th June) – Helmreich explained – the proud mum showed off her little one to the zookeepers in their first tour outside.

Helmreich said: “Until now, the two were still in the sleeping area, which is not visible.

“This morning, the mother decided to make a first trip with the cub. However, they can also withdraw inside at any time.

“The little one is a ‘legacy’ of our male, who died in February.”

The little one’s father was a famous orangutan named Vladimir who was put down by vets at the zoo at the age of 49 after its health significantly worsened this February.

Vladimir gained fame when one of his mates named Nonja became an international painter – with works selling for GBP 5,000 a time – and even had her own Facebook page.

Helmreich explained that the baby’s mum has been living at the Schoenbrunn Zoo ever since she arrived as part of the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) from Rostock Zoo in October 2020.

The presswoman added: “The gender [of the newborn] is still unknown.”

She then emphasised the importance of protecting the species – native to the island of Borneo – that are listed ‘critically endangered’ on IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.

Helmreich said: “Orangutans have become a symbol of rainforest destruction. In Borneo and Sumatra, they are on the verge of extinction.”

Reports list deforestation, palm oil plantations and hunting pose as the most serious threats to the Bornean orangutan’s status.

Orangutans share approximately 97 per cent of their DNA with humans.