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Behind the obvious amusement juggernauts of Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando, Busch Gardens is one of the biggest and best-known theme parks in the state of Florida. Busch Gardens exciting roller coasters have thrilled guests for decades, but just as popular is the park's sprawling zoo, inhabited by thousands of rare animals from around the world.
The Busch Gardens animal family grew by one on April 13 when one of the park's "residents" gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. This baby is precious in more ways than one, however, as she's also the newest member of one of the world's most famous critically-endangered species.
Welcome to the world! According to @gma , this rare little bundle of joy didn't have the easiest time making her debut. She was stuck in the breach position and her mother, a Bornean orangutan named Luna, had to undergo a C-section. Thankfully, the 3-pound, 4-ounce baby and her mom made it through the surgery alive and well, and both are recovering together back at Busch Gardens .
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Happy at home and growing stronger each day, this wild mother-daughter duo now get to relax, recover, and bond together. There's just one problem left to handle: picking a new name for the baby primate. While Busch Gardens hasn't made the big announcement yet, they hint that it will follow a celestial theme like her mom's name. Make your guesses now!
The Sobering Status of the Bornean Orangutan
Bornean orangutans like Luna and her baby are one of the most highly-recognizable yet critically-endangered species on the planet. Originally from the Malaysian island of Borneo , the species has been driven to near-extinction through deforestation and hunting. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that Bornean orangutan populations have declined by more than 50% over the last 60 years, and their natural habitats have been reduced by at least 55% in the last 20 years. There are still about an estimated 35,000 Central Bornean orangutans in the world, but only an estimated 1,500 of the Northwest subspecies remain, and of the Northeast subspecies, even less.
Still, conservationists are fighting hard to pull the species back from the brink and restore their populations and habitats as best they can. Groups like the World Wildlife Fund and The Orangutan Project work to further conservation efforts in Sumatra and Borneo, while ethical sanctuaries and zoos like Busch Gardens take care of orangutans in captivity.
Well-cared for by the staff at Busch Gardens, Mama and Baby are safe from loggers, poachers, and anyone else who would threaten them in the wild. We wish long life and health to both of them, and can't wait for Baby's official name to drop very soon!
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