What Happened When an Orangutan Mother and Her Baby Were Reunited

When rescuers had the difficult job of bringing together a primate family reunion, they didn’t know what to expect. Everyone worried that when orangutan mother and baby finally came together again, things might go horribly wrong.

The mother and her child’s separation had lasted for more than a week. In these kinds of cases, it’s common for a mother primate to reject or even deliberately harm her baby.

This happens either out of confusion or a failure to recognize her own offspring.

But nothing could have prepared animal keepers for the sight they beheld once the mama orangutan and her newborn baby finally had their reunion. Sometimes, these kinds of reunions don’t go the way we expect!

20. Mother Meets Baby

The challenges of being a parent are very real for many species across the world. Orangutans are not unlike humans in many ways, but social interactions can make it difficult for some mothers to accept their babies.

19. Life in Cages

At the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue Centre in Borneo, animal rescuers were looking after the adult orangutan, Clara, as well as her adorable newborn baby. The pair had experienced a traumatic experience and their carers were worried.

18. Trials of Separation

Clara had seen her baby kidnapped shortly after birth, when an aggressive male had pulled them apart in order to assert dominance. Keepers had quickly tried to fix the situation, but the baby needed to be kept separate for its safety.

17. A Dangerous Reunion

As keepers tried to introduce the baby, named Clarity, back to her mother, they were wary. In circumstances like this, mothers can often reject their young entirely, or end up hurting them out of unfamiliarity.