So live from the El Paso Zoo ... hello from the other side ...
Friday, November 20, 2015
Hello from the other side ...
Orangutans are the only primarily arboreal great ape and are actually the largest tree living mammal in the world. Ibu loves climbing to the highest, top-most point of her exhibit so she has a 360-view of the Zoo!
In the wild, orangutans live and sleep up in the trees, sometimes as high as 120 feet above the ground. Orangutans usually have little need to come down from the trees, as they are uniquely adapted for their arboreal lifestyle.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Baby-led weaning!
The six month milestone baby Khaleesi is baby-led weaning. Right on track developmentally, Khaleesi has become very interested in mommy Ibu’s mouth: watching her eat, touching her lips, and making a “kissy face” with mommy. Although, Khaleesi doesn’t have any teeth yet, she only ‘mouths’ certain solid foods, such as browse, fortified biscuits and other solids.
Baby orangutans may begin eating soft fruit, in addition to nursing, at around three months of age. Initially mothers help prepare the solid food by grinding it up with their teeth, then giving it to their young to chew.
Some parents prefer a baby led approach to weaning and introducing solid foods to baby. Many parents choose to offer their babies food that is puréed while others prefer to jump straight into table foods.
Khaleesi has access to both – and also started gripping and mouthing biscuits, grass and lettuce leaves – but baby orangutans do continue to breast feed until they are six to eight years old. Khaleesi always spits out the items she mouths and doesn’t swallow them.
While Ibu was playing with an enrichment feeder, Khaleesi took a gelatin cube! Ibu had gelatin cubes in her enrichment feeder, which she gets by solving puzzles. Because of her tiny hands and arms, Khaleesi was able to reach in and grab the cube without solving any puzzles or using any tools. Not only did Khaleesi grabbed a cube and mouthed it – she also ate it!
Won’t it be fun to see if Khaleesi has a sweet tooth like Mommy Ibu?
Baby orangutans may begin eating soft fruit, in addition to nursing, at around three months of age. Initially mothers help prepare the solid food by grinding it up with their teeth, then giving it to their young to chew.
Some parents prefer a baby led approach to weaning and introducing solid foods to baby. Many parents choose to offer their babies food that is puréed while others prefer to jump straight into table foods.
Khaleesi has access to both – and also started gripping and mouthing biscuits, grass and lettuce leaves – but baby orangutans do continue to breast feed until they are six to eight years old. Khaleesi always spits out the items she mouths and doesn’t swallow them.
While Ibu was playing with an enrichment feeder, Khaleesi took a gelatin cube! Ibu had gelatin cubes in her enrichment feeder, which she gets by solving puzzles. Because of her tiny hands and arms, Khaleesi was able to reach in and grab the cube without solving any puzzles or using any tools. Not only did Khaleesi grabbed a cube and mouthed it – she also ate it!
Won’t it be fun to see if Khaleesi has a sweet tooth like Mommy Ibu?
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