THE L.A. ZOO CELEBRATES
FIRST BABY ORANGUTAN
IN NEARLY 15 YEARS
The male infant was born on Oct. 10 and has now made its debut
at the Zoo’s Red Ape Rain Forest habitat
PHOTOS & VIDEO: CLICK HERE
CREDIT: © Los Angeles Zoo
LOS ANGELES, CA – Nov. 6, 2025 – Los Angeles Zoo staff, volunteers, and guests are beaming with joy over the birth of a new baby boy Bornean orangutan, which can be seen now at the Red Ape Rain Forest.
The new infant was born to mom, Kalim (43), and dad, Isim (31), on Oct. 10. Mom and baby have been bonding behind the scenes and have now made their public debut together. This is the first offspring for the pair, Kalim and Isim, but the third offspring for mom, Kalim.
“We’re thrilled to welcome another new great ape to the Zoo,” said Candace Sclimenti, Curator of Mammals at the Los Angeles Zoo. “This marks the first orangutan birth here since Elka was born nearly 15 years ago. Watching the orangutan group interact with the infant will be truly special, and we’re excited for our guests to experience the joy of watching our growing orangutan family.”
Of all non-human primates, orangutans have the longest interbirth interval. A single infant is born and cared for by its mother for seven to eight years before another infant is born. Mothers have much to teach their young to survive. Lessons include what food to eat and how to avoid predators.
“Kalim is an excellent mother with years of wisdom and lessons to teach her new little one,” said Megan Fox, Senior Animal Keeper at the Los Angeles Zoo. “Elka has grown to be a wonderful young orangutan because of the excellent job Kalim has done rearing and raising her over the last 14 years. Guests will now have an opportunity to see unique behaviors and interactions that haven’t been at Red Ape Rain Forest in a very long time. This is a fantastic moment for my team and the entire zoo to share!”
The L.A. Zoo houses Bornean orangutans, one of the three species. The world’s largest arboreal mammals, these apes spend about 90 percent of their time in trees. They use long hands and grasping feet to grip branches and pull themselves through the canopy. Adult males are the most solitary of the apes and defend their territories from other males. Males are about twice the size of females with an arm span of over seven feet.
Translated from Malay, their name means “person of the forest,” and they share 97 percent of their DNA with humans. Orangutans have a well-documented history of tool use. In the wild, branches are used as poles, hammers, and rakes to poke termite holes, test the depth of water, or reach their favorite fruit. Leaves are used as umbrellas, sunshades, sponges, and napkins. Orangutans have been known to engage in deceptive behavior to outwit their partners. Orangutans have demonstrated the ability to identify more than 72 symbols for common objects, numbers, and commands demonstrating a strong grasp of vocabulary and long-term memory.
Bornean orangutans are categorized as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the wild, their populations continue to decline due to climate change and human activities that include habitat loss for mining and clear cutting of forests for palm oil plantations.
L.A. Zoo guests can see Kalim and her new infant bonding together at the Red Ape Rain Forest exhibit, weather permitting.
About the Los Angeles Zoo
The Los Angeles Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is dedicated to providing exemplary animal care and wellbeing. As a trusted leader in local and global conservation efforts, the Los Angeles Zoo is saving wildlife and connecting Angelenos to the natural world by delivering diverse learning opportunities and creating unforgettable experiences. The lush 133-acre campus and its passionate and dedicated team welcomes all to be inspired by the Zoo’s vision to create a just and sustainable world where people and wildlife thrive, together. The Zoo is located on Zoo Drive in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Admission is $27 for adults and $22 for children ages 2 to 12. For more information, visit the L.A. Zoo website at www.lazoo.org.
CONTACT:
Carl Myers
323-644-4273
lazoo.press@lacity.org