ORANGUTAN MOTHER LOVES HER BABY

Orangutan mother, Hadia, watches over her 9-month old daughter, Sulu, at ZooTampa in Tampa, Florida. Even though she seems tired at the end of a busy day, Hadia stays ever-watchful of Sulu. Orangutan mothers sometimes carry their babies for up to 5 years and can nurse them for up to 8 years. Even after they are too old to be carried and fed by mother, orangutan young will travel with and rest near them. Females will often “visit“ their mothers until they reach the age of 15 or 16. The bonds are strong and females generally won’t have their first baby until they’re at least 15 yrs old. In their lifetime females may only have 3-4 babies.