Virginia Zoo welcomes newborn orangutan to the family

NORFOLK, Va. (WSET) -- The Virginia Zoo has a new bundle of joy.

Zoo officials said Dara the orangutan gave birth to her baby right before midnight on Friday, June 22 in her indoor den.

The zoo said this was 18-year-old Dara and her mate, 15-year-old Solaris' first offspring.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the news of our new orangutan baby,” said Greg Bockheim, the Executive Director of the Virginia Zoo. “I’m proud of our Zoo Keepers and Vet Team who have been prepping, training and waiting for this moment for months, and now their hard work has paid off. It’s a big success to contribute this significant birth to the Zoo community and the critically endangered species as a whole."

Dara and her baby are staying indoors for now, since temperatures in Norfolk have been up near the triple digits lately.

Zoo staff don't yet know the gender or weight of the baby orangutan. This is because staff do not want to intervene or separate Dara and the baby unless there's an emergency.

“Dara is doing a great job caring for her newborn,” said Dr. Colleen Clabbers, the Zoo’s Veterinarian. “The pair spend their time nursing, resting and snuggling in their den.”

Baby orangutans are dependent on their mother for the first two years of their life, and continue to nurse for a few years after that. Offspring usually stay with their mothers for over 10 years.

With this new addition, the Virginia Zoo has five orangutans:Dara and her baby, Solaris, 38-year-old female Pepper and 36-year-old male Schnitz.