Kids & Family

Photos: Baby Orangutan Gets Surrogate Mother at Brookfield Zoo

The baby orangutan's mother at the Toledo Zoo didn't show an interested in caring for him, so zoo officials turned to 53-year-old Maggie, an orangutan at Brookfield Zoo, who has been a surrogate before.

A 53-year-old Bornean orangutan at Brookfield Zoo has become a surrogate mother once again, helping a 6-month-old orangutan that was rejected by its mother at the Toledo Zoo. 

Kecil—pronounced Ka-cheel, Indonesian for "little"—arrived at Brookfield Zoo on June 20 and met Maggie, who has performed well as a surrogate mother in the past. 

“Although it has been only a short time and we have a long road ahead of us, we are extremely optimistic due to Kecil and Maggie’s progress so far," said Jay Petersen, curator of primates and carnivores for the Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo. "Maggie is an easygoing and gentle orangutan. The two have been together since Kecil’s arrival, and Maggie has provided care and attention that he needs to receive from an orangutan.” 

Kecil was born Jan. 11, 2014 at the Toledo Zoo in Ohio. His mother, who has raised other offspring in the past, "showed little interest in caring for him following a difficult delivery," according to a news release. After months of efforts to encourage the mother, zoo officials decided it would be best to place Kecil with a surrogate. 

An attempt was made to create a bond with a surrogate at the Milwaukee County Zoo, but it was not achieved and Kecil was moved again. After a month of meeting Maggie, Kecil has made great progress. 

It will be a while before Kecil and Maggie will be on exhibit at Brookfield Zoo for guests to see, because the staff wants to give them time to develop their relationship. In the meantime, the Chicago Zoological Society will be setting up a keeper journal at www.CZS.org/Kecil where the public can get periodic updates, including photos and video, of the two. 

Read more about Kecil and Maggie here


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