LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Officials announced that a "critically endangered" orangutan species was born at the Little Rock Zoo early Friday morning.
According to the Little Rock Zoo, orangutans Berani and Bandar birthed a Bornean orangutan, a species that experts estimate has between 45,000 and 69,000 remaining in the wild.
"Bornean orangutans are critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, meaning there is a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future," the Little Rock Zoo said. "Their vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss and fragmentation of their home."
This marks the second infant for Berani and Bandar, who the zoo said are available for viewing on and off throughout the day in both their exhibit and the interior building.
The two orangutans joined the Little Rock Zoo in 2016 and gave birth to Kasih in 2019.
Additionally, zoo staff reported the new infant is "healthy and nursing." Since the Bornean orangutan is only one day old, they're "closely monitoring the baby's health."
