Phoenix Zoo Welcomes Male Bornean Orangutan

It's a baby boy for Phoenix Zoo's Bornean orangutan Bess, who gave birth early this month.

The staff at Phoenix Zoo is celebrating the birth of a male Bornean Orangutan, who was born in the afternoon on September 2, 2014. Born to mother Bess and father Michael, the unnamed newly born male is the couple's second baby, their first is an eight-year-old daughter Kasih.

Listed as endangered, Bornean orang-utan - as the name suggests - is a species of orangutan that are native to the island of Borneo. They are characterized by the distinctive red-orange hair. This species is well-adapted to the rainforest canopies. They weight 66-220 pounds and reach a height of 3.3 - 4.6 feet.

According to the announcement, the mother and the baby are fine and have been seen bonding well in their night house. The pair will continue to stay in this night house, making it easier for the keepers and veterinary staff to closely monitor Bess and determine her recovery from the delivery.

The zoo staff reports that the baby is healthy and is opening his eyes. He stays close to Bess. In the next few days, the staff plans on shifting the pair to the exhibit. Accompanying them in the orangutan exhibit is the 8-year-old male orangutan, Daniel, who shifted to the Phoenix Zoo from Cleveland.

It is estimated that over the past 60 years, the Bornean orangutan population has dropped by 50 percent and their habitat dropped by 55 percent over the past 20 years. Scientists estimate that these wild orangutans could be extinct in the next 5-10 years. Their habitat is declining as the forests are being destroyed to grow palm oil.

The zoo contributes to the conservation efforts of Bornean Orangutan through the Phoenix Zoo Conservation & Science Grants Program.