Miss Independent

Look who is climbing now!

Khaleesi is nine months old and Miss Independent, like mommy!

For humans, a baby's first step marks a milestone in growing up. For orangutans, who spend much of their lives in trees, their first climb is equally as important and worthy of celebration!

While Khaleesi hasn’t climbed a tree – YET – you can see her baby climbing skills are developing on the indoor climbing mesh. The human equivalent would be when a baby pulls itself up or moves around in a baby walker.

She began pulling herself up on the climbing mesh at 4 months old, and moving around somewhat at 5 months old. Now she’s making deliberate, individual, foot movements and placements while fully extended and with strength!

The indoor climbing mesh has small openings and is easy for Khaleesi to grip with her small hands and feet. Khaleesi has begun climbing and moving around on and off exhibit.Because she is getting so good at climbing, the animal care staff and facilities staff are working together to build her special climbing structures so you can see her climb in her habitat at the Zoo!

Exhibit Technician Jerry, Collections Supervisor Griselda, Area Supervisor Rachel and Enrichment Coordinator Carrie meet inside the orangutan exhibit to design a new climbing structure for Khaleesi.

Jerry, an expert in constructing zoo habitats, is also former zookeeper! His animal expertise is vital to creating habitat spaces for the all the Zoo animals.

Even when young orangutans are too old to be carried and fed by their mother, they may still remain close to her, traveling with her, eating, and resting in the same trees, until they are about 10 years old.