WASHINGTON — Motherhood can be quite the adjustment — and that goes for new orangutan moms, too.
While the Smithsonian National Zoo said mother and baby are doing well, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Batang, an orangutan at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, since her baby was born Sept. 12.
“As a first-time mom, Batang has had a bit of a learning curve,” the zoo said in a news release Tuesday.
One issue Batang has had involves figuring out how to move around the exhibit with her new baby, “Redd,” in tow.
“She doesn’t quite realize that if she gets up to move around, he’ll hang on. But he does!” the release said, adding that sometimes, Batang has to untangle Redd’s hands and feet from her hair.
The best solution Batang has found so far is to place Redd atop her head, which looks somewhat odd to the zookeepers, but keeps her hands free, the release said.
Zookeepers are currently focused on helping Batang reestablish her routine while also trying to follow her lead, the release said. They are also closely monitoring her diet — one of her favorite foods is applesauce.
When it comes to baby Redd, zookeepers and veterinarians evaluate his health by looking for certain signs. If he is strong and clinging to Batang; nursing well and often; and acting vocal and alert, the keepers and veterinarians know Redd is doing well.
The zoo said that in the future, they hope Batang will be open to training while she is carrying Redd; this way, zookeepers and veterinarians can listen to Redd’s heart and lungs.
For now, however, zookeepers remain “hands-off” with Redd to make sure mother and baby maintain their strong bond, the release said. The pair spends most of their time in the nest. The zoo expects Batang will move around the public exhibit areas more frequently as she adjusts to carrying her baby around.
