Orangutans

The BioPark is home to five orangutans, with one on the way!

Updates on Sarah the Orangutan's Pregnancy

• May 11, 2013: Join us for an Orangutan Baby Shower and gender reveal party.
• April 29, 2013: Sarah and her baby can be seen in the orangutan yard. They may move inside if the weather is unfavorable or if the temperature is below 60 degrees.
• April 26, 2013: Happy birthday, baby! Keepers arrived at the Zoo this morning to find Sarah and her healthy newborn. The baby's name and gender will be determined at a later date.

• Feb. 23 2013: Zookeeper Sara helps Sarah the orangutan get ready for the new baby. Keepers give Sarah a plush, ask her to give it back while they do a quick "baby" checkup, then give her back the plush. This increases trust between Sarah and the keepers, so when the baby does arrive, animal care staff will be able to make sure the baby is healthy without making Sarah uncomfortable.

• Feb. 5 2013: Sarah is doing great through her pregnancy. She is discouraging Reese from nursing, so keepers are introducing Reese to tiny portions of an adult diet with fruits, veggies, biscuits and supplements. On warm days, all the orangutans go out in the yard together. At night, Reese sleeps with Rubi, who has been like an auntie. As Sarah and her new baby bond, they will spend time away from the rest of the group, so it's important that Reese becomes more independent.
• Jan. 31 2013: Sarah is getting a little picky about the food she eats. She still likes her fruits and veggies, but doesn't care for biscuits right now. Is this a sign that her baby is coming soon?
• Jan. 24 2013: Veterinarians estimate the baby is around five months old. Watch the ultrasound.
• Nov. 2012: Zookeepers notice signs of pregnancy and confirm with a pregnancy test. They continue to monitor Sarah closely. Animal Care Team begins to perform regular ultrasounds, working with Sarah on the process, learning how to get the best images and checking the growth of the baby.

Video about Orangutan Ultrasounds

Meet the BioPark Orangutans

Tonka

Born on Sept. 26, 1979 at the Oklahoma City Zoo, Tonka came to the BioPark in 1990. He is the biggest orangutan, and you can see his large cheek pads, which males develop as adults. Tonka loves to sleep on nests he builds with blankets and cardboard.

Memala

Memala was born on Oct. 7, 1969 at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. She came to the ABQ BioPark on June 16, 1983 and is our oldest orangutan. Although she is not very big or strong, she is the dominant female.

Rubi

Rubi was born on Nov. 25, 1993 at the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California. She came to the BioPark in 2003. She is assertive, intelligent and knows many behaviors when training. Rubi has longer, darker hair than the other female orangutans.

Sarah

Sarah was born on May 23, 1983 at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado. She came to the ABQ BioPark as a hand-raised infant. She has 3 offspring and her youngest, Reese, is still here. You will usually see Sarah on the platform while Reese plays nearby.

Reese

Reese was born here on Oct. 2, 2008 to parents Sarah and Tonka. Reese was a twin, rare among orangutans, but the other baby died shortly after birth. She is very playful and active. You may see her interacting with the others and practicing her climbing skills on the play structure.