Ask us a Question
10-Month Old Aurora Adopted by Surrogate Orangutan
INFANT ORANGUTAN ‘AURORA’ AT HOUSTON ZOO ‘ADOPTED’ BY SURROGATE ORANGUTAN MOM
Team of 50 Care Givers Achieve Ultimate Adoption Goal
Ten month old Aurora takes a nap in the arms of her surrogate mom Cheyenne
in the orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
in the orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
After months of tender loving care and sleepless nights, a team of 50 trained and experienced care givers hand raising Aurora the baby orangutan at the Houston Zoo has achieved its ultimate long-sought goal – Aurora’s ‘adoption’ by the Zoo’s experienced surrogate orangutan mom Cheyenne. If the temperature is above 60 degreess with no rain, Aurora and Cheyenne may be seen daily at the orangutan habitat in the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
“We couldn’t be more pleased and excited that Cheyenne has accepted the role of surrogate mom for Aurora. It is a great joy to see them together,” said Assistant Curator of Primates Lynn Killam. “Dozens of dedicated volunteers and our primate care team invested thousands of hours over 9 months to reach this landmark. We are deeply grateful for the volunteer support we received for this effort,” added Killam.
Ten month old Aurora and her surrogate mom Cheyenne enjoy a quiet moment
in the orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
in the orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
The Birth
Aurora was born Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at Wortham World of Primates. For 12 hours following the birth, Kelly, Aurora’s mother gave the primate care team every indication that she would nurse the baby, as she had with her son Solaris. Unfortunately, Kelly abandoned the infant and refused repeated attempts to return the baby to her. Concerned for Aurora’s welfare, the primate care team made the decision to hand rear the baby.
Ten month old Aurora and her surrogate mom Cheyenne tidy up a bit after} enjoying a
snack in the orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
snack in the orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
The Process
For 9 months, always in view of the Zoo’s other orangutans, 50 volunteers assisted the Houston Zoo’s primate care team in the hand rearing process. Aurora clung to her care givers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until she was ready to move about on her own. The care team closely monitored Kelly and Cheyenne to gauge their interest in the baby.
“As Aurora became more independent of her care givers, moving about more on her own, the primate care team taught her to go through what’s called a ‘creep door’, a very small opening in doors between rooms in the off exhibit night house at Wortham World of Primates,” said Killam.
Ten month old Aurora hitches a ride on the back of her surrogate mom Cheyenne in the
orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates.
The Introduction
On December 28, 2011, the creep door between Cheyenne and Aurora was opened for the first time. “Aurora chose not to go completely through it, instead touching and playing with Cheyenne through the small gap as Cheyenne reached her arm through,” said Killam.
On December 29, Cheyenne chose not to play with Aurora through the creep door, but instead sat just outside it. She waited patiently until Aurora came through the creep door on her own. “As Aurora came through the door, Cheyenne picked her up and carried her across the room,” said Killam.
For the next 7 hours Cheyenne carried Aurora around, even allowing Aurora to ride on her head. The two shared produce and cereal and fruit juice together and the primate care team was able to give Aurora her bottles right next to Cheyenne. Several times Cheyenne would do somersaults around Aurora as the little orangutan watched in amazement.
“What we saw was an orangutan mom who is experienced and nuanced in her care,” said Killam. “It was a wonderful day.”
Ten month old Aurora enchants visitors to the orangutan habitat at the Houston Zoo’s
Wortham World of Primates as her surrogate mom Cheyenne enjoys an ice pop
(made of fruit juice and figs) and makes a bed of straw near the habitat viewing window.
Wortham World of Primates as her surrogate mom Cheyenne enjoys an ice pop
(made of fruit juice and figs) and makes a bed of straw near the habitat viewing window.
Help Support Our Primates!
Make a gift today to help support the Houston Zoo's Primate Department and the continued care and feeding of orangutans like Aurora and Cheyenne. Your gift, large or small, is greatly APE-preciated!
