Save the Date!

Good things come in little packages ...

Mommy Ibu and baby enjoy snuggling and cuddling. They are still bonding behind the scenes together.

The femur bone's connected to the ... due date

A femur, or thigh bone, is the longest and strongest bone in the human body. Orangutans, who share about 94 percent of their DNA with humans, also have femur bones. When Ibu received ultrasounds, the El Paso Zoo veterinary staff was able to take femur measurements from the sonogram pictures. From the femur, the staff predicted Ibu’s due date.

Dr. Misty Garcia looks at the sonograms (and so does Ibu!) 

while Dr. Victoria Milne uses the ultrasound probe on Ibu’s belly.

Using these images and the limited data available, the vet staff made their best prediction on a due date for Ibu. Similarly to other zoos, the baby was earlier than expected. This is because compiling the data for a gestational growth curve is an ongoing process – one that the El Paso Zoo, using the baby’s data, hopes to contribute to for future births.

When a human mommy-to-be goes for an ultrasound, fetal biometry, or baby measurements, are taken from the sonogram pictures to determine the gestational and age and to assess the fetal size. These measurements generally include:

BPD, biparietal diameter, the diameter of your baby's head;

HC, head circumference, the length going around your baby's head;

CRL, (crown-rump length, the length from the top of the head to your baby's bottom;

AC, (abdominal circumference), the length going around your baby's belly and;

FL, (femur length), the length of a bone in your baby's leg.

Zoo veterinarian Dr. Victoria Milne said while these numbers have not been complied for orangutans, measurements taken here will contribute to the data for future growth curve measurements. Having these measurements helped the staff determine when Ibu would give birth to her baby orangutan. Based on the size of Ibu and Butch’s baby’s femur, the veterinary staff estimated the baby would be born in late May. This was based on the data available from other orangutan sonogram measurements. The El Paso Zoo vet staff does “awake” ultrasounds. Ibu liked watching the sonogram pictures appear on screen while the vet staff examined her.

While hundreds of thousands of human fetuses have been measured using ultrasound technology, comparatively, very few orangutan fetuses have been measured. This is in part because only orangutans in the care of humans have full medical monitoring during their pregnancy and because not all veterinary staffs have the necessary equipment to collect but also because orangutan births are so special and rare.

Dr. Brittany Rizzo at the Toledo Zoo in Ohio began collecting ultrasound data in January 2014 with the approval of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP) after the zoo staff in Toledo also had an orangutan baby arrive a month earlier than predicted. Dr. Rizzo said creating a better orangutan growth curve is long-term project. She believes it will probably take at least a decade to get the necessary data to accurately predict orangutan baby due dates. The project is collecting the same measurements in sonogram pictures for orangutans that we have for human babies: BPD, HC, CRL, AC, and FL.

An average of 15 baby Sumatran orangutans are born each year in zoos worldwide. According to the AZA Orangutan SSP, in order to preserve biological diversity, there should be five orangutan births in AZA-accredited institutions annually. There were three births in 2014, including the one in Toledo. Ibu and Butch's baby is the second one born this year. 

Sumatran orangutans are classified as critically endangered by IUCN, the World Conservation Union. Orangutans were found in forests across Sumatra in Indonesia, but now only survive in two providences where one of their greatest threats to survival is habitat loss. Oranguntans are the only great apes found in the wild today outside of Africa.

Cutting the cord

New Mommy Ibu rests with her baby in a nest she constructed in her behind the scenes living quarters.

Ibu is an intelligent and independent orangutan. Giving birth all by herself was a surprise, but not out of character for this new mommy. However, Ibu's strong trust-based relationship with her keepers allowed them to take a first step in helping her as new mommy, beyond years of training. 

When the zookeepers arrived at the El Paso Zoo the morning of April 23, Ibu voluntarily presented her new arrival to them. After two years of mommy training and building a daily trust-based relationship. Because of this strong relationship, zoo keepers were able to assist Ibu in cutting the umbilical cord, which was still attached when the keepers arrived. 

Keepers had taught Ibu to present the baby to them - first with her wood block baby, and then with her plush practice babies. To cut the cord, they asked her to present the baby, which Ibu voluntarily did. When Ibu realized what they were doing, she decided she would try to do it herself. Then she realized it would be hard to cut the cord herself, so she presented the baby to the keepers so that they could do it for her instead.

A first for them to help her on her motherhood journey after years of preparation.

It's A GIRL!!!

IT’S A GIRL!  The El Paso Zoo is ecstatic to welcome the first Sumatran orangutan born at the Zoo.  Ibu and Butch welcomed their first baby overnight.  “I am so proud of our staff for preparing so diligently. The training and preparation seems to have paid off with a successful birth. This is a huge milestone for the El Paso Zoo and for our community. This is a historic conservation achievement for the Zoo, and an important contribution to the conservation of this endangered species,” Zoo Director Steve Marshall said. Ibu and the baby are doing well. Ibu is doing a great job for a first-time mom and is very attentive and gentle. She is doing everything right. She cleaned the baby, is holding her appropriately and the baby appears to be nursing. The baby is also holding on to mom with a tight grip. Ibu’s keepers have worked with her for two years to prepare her for motherhood - and it seems to have paid off. Ibu is voluntarily presenting the baby to staff when asked, which allowed a keeper to assist Ibu in cutting the umbilical cord. “We got great surprise this morning when we came in and found a baby in Ibu’s arms. We want to thank the community for helping us prepare Ibu for this very important step in her life. The donation of plush orangutans helped us with her training and she’s doing an amazing job. We couldn’t have done it without the community’s help and support,” said Griselda Martinez, Collections Supervisor. The baby was expected in late May and its arrival surprised staff. It does not appear the baby is premature. Predicting orangutan births is complicated because predictions are based on physical observations that can be variable. Veterinary staff used sonograms, but there is not enough data yet to make an exact prediction. Ibu’s baby will help contribute to the data that will be used to better predict future orangutan births. “We’re really proud of Ibu for doing this all on her own, but we’re a little ‘upset’ at her for surprising us so early. Most of all, we’re relieved that they are both doing so great,” said Dr. Victoria Milne, Zoo Veternarian.  Zoo staff has been planning a baby shower for Ibu on Mother’s Day in conjunction with the international M.O.M. (Missing Orangutan Mothers) event.  Guests will have the opportunity to support the couple with love at the baby shower, even though the baby has already been born. The baby shower will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 10. The baby naming contest will kick off at the event, and a baby registry will soon be available for the community to show their love and support. According to the birthing plan, the Zoo is allowing Ibu and the baby to bond behind the scenes. The Zoo will assess their progress in a few weeks to determine when mommy and baby may be on exhibit.

Confirming the Pregnancy

Staff monitored Ibu making behavioral observations, but a human urine pregnancy test and ultrasound confirmed she was pregnant.

The female orangutan's menstrual cycle is 28 to 30 days, with menstruation lasting three to five days. The gestation period is approximately eight and a half months, so orangutans are pregnant for about 245 days. This is very close to the pregnancy periods of humans. Female Sumatran orangutans will generally give birth to one infant. Multiple births are possible, though they are rare. In face, Ibu was born a twin. Newborn orangutans weigh about 2 to 4 pounds. 

Behavioral Observations

The first signs Ibu was pregnant came from physical and behavioral observations. First, a normally very cheerful and bubbly Ibu appeared to become more calm and reserved. Likewise, normally Ibu is one of the first animals to come when the trainers call her at noon for training, but after becoming pregnant, she seemed more tired. 

As her keepers observed these changes, they began letting Ibu sleep in longer.  If she still feels up to training, they do an abbreviated 15-minute session. Ibu’s training includes exercises that appear like a work out warm up. It includes stretching, reaching her arms up high, getting her knees up like a march, expanding her hips, climbing and squats, as well as mental exercises for her inquisitive mind.

Physical Observations

Ibu was also going through physical changes in the early months of her pregnancy. Ibu’s keepers and the veterinary staff always monitor her health and well-being, but they are now also regularly monitoring physical changes specific to pregnancy in other to give Ibu the highest level of care possible.

The first changes keepers noticed was that Ibu began sleeping and urinating more than usual. Moreover, her nipples became enlarged and her normally gelatinous, doughy stomach was becoming more firm. Ibu’s hormonal cycle stopped, though she was still spotting at times.

Pregnancy Testing

After her menstruation changed, a human pregnancy test kit was the first confirmation that Ibu was pregnant.

Zoo keepers regularly monitor Ibu’s hormonal cycles and after changes were noted in her cycle, the zoo keepers used a human pregnancy test kit to confirm the pregnancy. Certain brands of over-the-counter tests are known to react accurately with orangutan hormones, and are recommended by the AZA Orangutan Husbandry and Breeding guide.

Ultrasound

The pregnancy was further confirmed through an ultrasound and sonogram. Ibu was trained to present her abdomen for ultrasounds. As part of her prenatal monitoring plan, Ibu will allow the veterinary staff to put the ultrasound probe with gel on her belly. Ibu likes watching the machine and seeing the sonograms.

An ultrasound is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to scan the abdomen and pelvic cavity to create a sonogram picture of a baby and placenta. Though an ultrasound and sonogram are technically different, they are frequently used interchangeably in reference to the same exam.