Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Baby watch continues for Hesty, our 15-year-old Sumatran orangutan and our Animal Care and Animal Health teams have been working around the clock to make sure this first-time mom is ready for every scenario. 🦧
Here's a look at how our team has been helping to prepare Hesty:
🧡 Maternal training: Hesty has been practicing holding and positioning a stuffed baby so she's ready to nurse when the real moment comes.
🍼 Bottle training: Using a specially repurposed metal chute originally for voluntary blood draws, Hesty has learned to pass the baby and present for bottle feeding, just in case supplemental feeding is needed.
💚 Ultrasound training: Hesty voluntarily presents her belly for weekly ultrasound checks, allowing our vet team to monitor baby's growth and development without sedation.
As a Critically Endangered species, every new addition to the population is a meaningful win for conservation, and Hesty's baby is no exception. Learn more about Hesty’s pregnancy care here: denverzoo.org/zootales/inside-hestys-pregnancy-journey-2
#Hesty #SumatranOrangutan #DenverZooConservationAlliance #DZCA #Conservation #Primates
Baby watch continues for Hesty, our 15-year-old Sumatran orangutan and our Animal Care and Animal Health teams have been working around the clock to make sure this first-time mom is ready for every scenario. 🦧
Here's a look at how our team has been helping to prepare Hesty:
🧡 Maternal training: Hesty has been practicing holding and positioning a stuffed baby so she's ready to nurse when the real moment comes.
🍼 Bottle training: Using a specially repurposed metal chute originally for voluntary blood draws, Hesty has learned to pass the baby and present for bottle feeding, just in case supplemental feeding is needed.
💚 Ultrasound training: Hesty voluntarily presents her belly for weekly ultrasound checks, allowing our vet team to monitor baby's growth and development without sedation.
As a Critically Endangered species, every new addition to the population is a meaningful win for conservation, and Hesty's baby is no exception. Learn more about Hesty’s pregnancy care here: denverzoo.org/zootales/inside-hestys-pregnancy-journey-2
#Hesty #SumatranOrangutan #DenverZooConservationAlliance #DZCA #Conservation #Primates
