A group of women at Dublin Zoo, Ireland, have engaged in a remarkable initiative aimed at teaching behaviors to help a pregnant orangutan, Mujur, become a more effective mother. These mothers gathered at the zoo to breastfeed their babies, hoping to encourage Mujur to learn maternal skills necessary for raising her newborn.
Mujur, a Bornean orangutan, faced heartbreak after losing two previous infants due to her struggles with maternal instincts. To assist her when she became pregnant again, the zoo implemented strategies to maximize her chances of successfully raising her next baby.
“Dublin Zoo has been working with Mujur for months, leaving no stone unturned to help her develop the necessary maternal qualities,” the zoo stated. Their careful planning highlights their dedication to the well-being of the critically endangered species.
The plight of the Bornean orangutan is severe, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifying them as critically endangered since 2016. The 2016 assessment noted their population had declined to about 104,700 from around 288,500 just over four decades prior, with projections warning it could drop to 47,000 by 2025 due to habitat loss, hunting, wildfires, and climate change.
Orangutans typically give birth every three to five years and usually have one child at a time. They exhibit the longest dependency period on their mothers of any terrestrial mammal, meaning newborns depend entirely on maternal care for food and transport during their formative years.
To help Mujur, who is now 19 years old, develop these maternal instincts, Dublin Zoo tried various innovative approaches. This included showing her videos of other orangutans nursing, as well as inviting breastfeeding volunteers from lactation groups to model maternal behaviors.
The initiative saw positive engagement, with Mujur reportedly showing significant interest as she watched the women feed their babies. Observers noted she even began to mimic some of the actions demonstrated by her human counterparts.
On July 31, Mujur gave birth to her son. Although she initially displayed sign of maternal behavior, she struggled with correctly positioning him for nursing.
Considering the circumstances surrounding the birth, Dublin Zoo made the difficult decision to separate the newborn from Mujur. Recognizing the genetic significance of the newborn, whose father had recently died at the age of 45, the zoo decided to bottle-feed him for optimal care.
The infant is currently receiving round-the-clock care at the zoo and is set to move to Monkey World, a specialized facility dedicated to hand-raising orangutans. Staff members at Dublin Zoo have already formed deep attachments with the newborn, making the transition difficult.
Despite the emotional challenges, zoo officials believe transferring him to Monkey World is the best option for his continued care and development. With the right environment, they hope he will flourish and thrive as he matures.
Such initiatives underscore the lengths to which zoos are willing to go for endangered species and the importance placed on maternal instincts for animal welfare.
By providing unique educational opportunities for both animals and people, these projects can influence future conservation efforts and raise awareness about the challenges facing wildlife. Education and community involvement play critical roles in supporting conservation and animal care practices.
Through these trials and efforts, Mujur's story stands as both a poignant reminder of the challenges animal mothers can face and as an example of the innovative solutions humans can create to support endangered wildlife. The relationship between human and animal caregivers continues to evolve, fostering hope for endangered species like the Bornean orangutan.
