September 11, 2023
4-month-old from Sacramento Zoo will be introduced to Zoo Atlanta’s nationally renowned veteran adoptive mother, Madu
ATLANTA – September 11, 2023 – Zoo Atlanta and the Sacramento Zoo are pleased to announce that Nangka, a 4-month-old male Sumatran orangutan, arrived safely in Atlanta on Friday, September 8, 2023. In the coming days, the infant will have an opportunity to meet Madu, a 40-year-old female Sumatran orangutan who has successfully adopted four youngsters over the past more than 20 years.
Nangka, whose name means “jackfruit” in Indonesian, has received round-the-clock care from the team at the Sacramento Zoo since his birth on May 1, 2023. When it became apparent that his biological mother was not likely to provide appropriate maternal interest or care – a situation which is not uncommon for first-time orangutan mothers – the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Orangutan Species Survival Plan® (SSP) recommended that Nangka be transferred to a location with an experienced adoptive mother.
“Nangka has received the best of care from the team in Sacramento, and his well-being has always been everyone’s top priority. The best mother for an orangutan is another orangutan, and we are so glad that we have a resource like Madu, who is a truly extraordinary individual. She is a natural with many years of experience,” said Jennifer Mickelberg, PhD, Vice President of Collections and Conservation. “This is just one of many examples of how AZA zoos work together for the good of individual animals and the sustainability of their species. We’re excited to be able to share more on Nangka’s new chapter.”
“We are thrilled that Nangka will be able to grow up with Madu and the rest of the Zoo Atlanta group,” said Janine Steele, Animal Care Supervisor and Primate Lead at Sacramento Zoo. “It has always been the goal for the Sacramento Zoo to have Nangka be an orangutan raised by orangutans. Since his birth, dozens of dedicated people across the Sac Zoo’s staff and volunteers have contributed to Nangka’s success thus far. A specialized team has cared for Nangka around the clock since his birth – more than 3,000 hours in total – and the entire Sac Zoo family has been dedicated to his success. Now we are so pleased that the team at Zoo Atlanta, including Madu, will carry out that care.”
Infant orangutans must be reared by other orangutans, who have a longer childhood than any other terrestrial mammal except humans (eight to 10 years). The opportunity to be reared by a fellow orangutan is essential to developing the young, who learn everything they know from their mothers. In the wild, these skills include knowledge of climbing safety, appropriate predator avoidance behaviors, the ability to identify and remember the locations of fruit trees, and the ability to discern the appropriateness of certain fruits and other foods.
Although she has no biological offspring, Madu is a remarkable individual with an outstanding track record for adopting infants whose mothers were unwilling or unable to care for them. The two youngest of these, male Remy, 12, and female Keju, 8, continue to reside at Zoo Atlanta. With her four previous adopted infants, Madu was trained to bring an infant forward to receive regular bottle feedings from human caregivers, providing all other aspects of maternal care herself. Infants are not removed from her for feeding – she has been trained to bring infants forward for bottle feeding through an indoor mesh barrier – and care team members will not share the same space with Madu.
Zoo Atlanta is home to one of North America’s largest populations of orangutans, with 10 individuals representing both Sumatran and Bornean orangutans. Urgently threatened by habitat loss, largely due to deforestation for commercial palm oil production in their native southeast Asia, orangutans face extinction within a decade without targeted conservation efforts.
Zoo Atlanta is one of few zoos to pursue and attain membership in the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil™ (RSPO). The Zoo and many other accredited zoos are vocal advocates for encouraging the use of sustainable palm oil, supporting only companies that use sustainably produced oil, celebrating those corporations who switch to sustainability, and raising public awareness of the necessity for informed shopping.
Madu and Nangka will have an opportunity to bond behind the scenes before exploring the outdoor orangutan complex. Stay tuned for updates on their introductions and news on when Members and guests will be able to see the new arrival.
Photo courtesy of Sacramento Zoo
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Summary:
– Zoo Atlanta and the Sacramento Zoo announce the arrival of Nangka, a 4-month-old male Sumatran orangutan, to Atlanta.
– Nangka will have the opportunity to meet Madu, a 40-year-old female Sumatran orangutan who has successfully adopted four youngsters in the past.
– The transfer was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Orangutan Species Survival Plan® (SSP) due to Nangka’s biological mother’s inability to provide appropriate maternal care.
– Madu is a remarkable orangutan with a history of adopting infants and providing all aspects of maternal care.
Article:
Zoos play a vital role in conservation efforts and wildlife education, and one of the recent and exciting developments is the arrival of a 4-month-old male Sumatran orangutan named Nangka at Zoo Atlanta. This new chapter for Nangka brings him to meet Madu, a 40-year-old female Sumatran orangutan who has successfully adopted four youngsters over the past two decades.
Nangka, meaning “jackfruit” in Indonesian, was born on May 1, 2023, at the Sacramento Zoo. Since his birth, the team at the Sacramento Zoo has provided round-the-clock care for him. However, it became apparent that his biological mother was unlikely to provide appropriate maternal care, a situation not uncommon for first-time orangutan mothers. In light of this, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Orangutan Species Survival Plan® (SSP) recommended the transfer of Nangka to a location with an experienced adoptive mother.
The well-being of Nangka has always been a top priority, and the team at Sacramento Zoo has taken exceptional care of him. However, they believe that the best mother for an orangutan is another orangutan, so they are excited for Nangka to meet Madu. Madu is extraordinary, as proven by her successful adoption of four previous infants. She has been a natural mother with years of experience, and her presence will undoubtedly contribute to Nangka’s development and well-being.
The transfer of Nangka to Zoo Atlanta is crucial because it allows him to be reared by his kind. Orangutans have a longer childhood than any other terrestrial mammal, except humans, lasting from eight to 10 years. During this time, they learn essential skills from their mothers, including climbing safety, predator avoidance behaviors, and knowledge of fruit trees and food selection. Being raised by another orangutan is essential for Nangka’s development and will provide him with the knowledge and skills needed for survival in the wild.
Madu may not have any biological offspring, but she has a remarkable track record for adopting infants whose mothers were unable or unwilling to care for them. Two of her adopted youngsters, Remy and Keju, still reside at Zoo Atlanta. Madu has been trained to bring infants forward for regular bottle feedings without requiring human caregivers to physically remove them from her. This training ensures that Madu can provide all aspects of maternal care while still receiving support from the care team when needed.
Zoo Atlanta is home to one of North America’s largest populations of orangutans, representing both Sumatran and Bornean species. The urgent threat to orangutans is habitat loss, primarily due to deforestation for commercial palm oil production in Southeast Asia. Without targeted conservation efforts, orangutans could face extinction within a decade. Zoos like Zoo Atlanta are actively advocating for the use of sustainable palm oil and encouraging public awareness about this issue. They have become members of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil™ (RSPO) and celebrate companies that switch to sustainable practices in palm oil production.
Madu and Nangka will have the chance to bond behind the scenes before exploring the outdoor orangutan complex. This process aims to ensure a smooth and successful introduction. Members and guests of Zoo Atlanta can look forward to updates on their progress and when they will be able to see the new arrival.
The arrival of Nangka at Zoo Atlanta marks an exciting new chapter in his life and highlights the important role that zoos play in conservation and education. By providing a nurturing environment and the opportunity for orangutans like Nangka to be raised by their kind, zoos contribute to the sustainability of species and help raise public awareness about wildlife’s challenges in the wild. The teamwork and collaboration between zoos across the country demonstrate their dedication to the well-being of individual animals and their commitment to conservation efforts.
