Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has welcomed the most adorable new addition; a baby orangutan.
The 3 pound bundle of joy born to his mother, Luna, and father, Madju, is currently healthy and being cared for by its mother with the animal care team.
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Guests to the park will be able to see the cute little guy in the Jungala area of the park and they can even help name the male orangutan via a Facebook poll that will launch on Thursday, November 16.
Check out some orangutan facts from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay:
- Bornean orangutans are critically endangered and typically live in the trees in the tropical island rain forests from lowland swamps to high in the mountains of Borneo. Bornean orangutan populations have declined by more than 50% over the past 60 years, and the species' habitat has been reduced by at least 55% over the past 20 years. The species is threatened by rapid deforestation and devastation of their habitat, mainly due to palm and other agricultural plantations. Young orangutans, in particular, are also by the illegal pet trade and mothers often killed as poachers snatch their young.
- This Orangutan birth is a part of Busch Gardens’ partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) Species Survival Plan® (SSP). The mission of the SSP is to cooperatively manage species populations within AZA-accredited facilities.
- Since 2006, the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has supported organizations like the Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program and HUTAN- Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Project. These organizations help educate locals in Southeast Asia about orangutans, wildlife conservation and sustainable farming techniques, in addition to recording the local population of orangutans.
