http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/orangutan-born-in-ramat-gan-after-decade-long-baby-drought-1.307027
Latest update 01:46 10.08.10
Orangutan born in Ramat Gan after decade-long baby drought
Baby ape born to a relatively old mother, Rochale, at 41, for the first such
birth since 2000.
By Noah Kosharek
An orangutan was born at the Ramat Gan Safari over the weekend, a decade since
the last such primate was born there. The baby ape was born to a relatively old
mother, Rochale, at 41.
Rochale the orangutan with her baby.
Photo by: Tibor Jager
Not only is this the first such birth since 2000, the Sumatran Orangutan
presently has a limited world population of 7,300. Most of them live in the
wild and several dozen in zoos. Along with the Borneo Orangutans, they are
considered a species that is threatened by extinction.
Officials at the Ramat Gan Safari (also known as the Zoological Center of Tel
Aviv-Ramat Gan ) were quick to note that the birth was of international
importance.
In order to increase the number of orangutans, two young females were brought
to the center from Germany - Sisi and Tosy. But it was Rochale, an older
orangutan already at the safari, who actually managed to give birth to a
healthy baby.
Rochale was also the one who gave birth a decade ago, at age 31. Her caretakers
had been hoping more offspring would follow, but on two occasions she gave
birth prematurely to lifeless babies. Zoo keepers didn't believe she would be
able to give birth to any more babies.
"Rochale's latest birth is a joyous event and gives us great hope," said Ofer
Matalon, head of the safari's primate department. "We are keeping our fingers
crossed that she will be able to raise the baby and bring it to maturity. We
are also still hoping that Tosy will become pregnant."
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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