Human Moms Teach Pregnant, Endangered Orangutan the Art of Breastfeeding

For several months, a group of 30 women engaged in a unique initiative at Dublin Zoo in Ireland, breastfeeding their babies in front of a pregnant orangutan. This unusual plan aimed to help Mujur, a critically endangered Bornean orangutan, learn the maternal skills necessary for caring for her newborn.

Mujur had experienced the heartbreak of losing two previous babies due to her inability to exhibit the essential maternal behaviors required for survival. As a result, when she became pregnant again, the zoo developed a comprehensive strategy to give her the best opportunity to nurture her new infant.

“In preparation for the birth of this newborn, Dublin Zoo has been working with Mujur for months, leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to give her the best chance possible to develop these necessary maternal qualities,” the zoo stated.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified Bornean orangutans as critically endangered in 2016, highlighting a worrying decline in their population. At that time, the estimated number of these orangutans was around 104,700, down from approximately 288,500 in 1973. The IUCN has warned that their numbers could plummet to just 47,000 by 2025 due to serious threats such as habitat destruction, illegal hunting, wildfires, and the effects of climate change.

Generally, female orangutans give birth every three to five years, usually to a single infant at a time. According to the Smithsonian National Zoo, orangutans have the longest dependency period on their mothers of any terrestrial mammal, including humans. During their initial years, newborn orangutans rely entirely on their mothers for food and transportation.

To assist 19-year-old Mujur in developing her maternal skills, the zoo utilized various methods, including showing her videos of other orangutans nursing their babies. Additionally, they enlisted volunteers from lactation groups in Dublin and nearby areas to participate in the initiative.

The zoo observed that Mujur expressed great interest in watching these women feed their babies and even began to mimic some of their actions.

After Mujur gave birth to her son on July 31, she initially displayed some maternal behavior. However, she struggled with positioning him correctly for feeding. While the zoo generally refrains from intervening in such situations, the circumstances surrounding this particular newborn were exceptional. With a significant genetic profile inherited from his father, who had sadly passed away in February at the age of 45, the zoo decided to separate the newborn from Mujur and began to bottle-feed him.

The newborn orangutan is currently receiving round-the-clock care and is to be moved to Monkey World, a specialized facility in the U.K. designed for hand-raising orangutans.

The staff at Dublin Zoo has already formed a strong bond with the little one, and while saying goodbye will be challenging, they believe he is being placed in the best environment for his continued development and welfare.