Orangutans are known for their unique intelligence and ability to form strong bonds with their offspring. In the wild, female orangutans are the primary caregivers for their young, but in rare cases, male orangutans have been observed to be a caregiver. Such was the case when a male orangutan named Berani stepped in to care for his infant daughter after her mother ᴘᴀssᴇs away. The incredible scenes unfolded at the Denver Zoo.
Orangutan Nias sadly ᴘᴀssᴇs away at 32 from a heart ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ. Orangutans can live up to 40 years in the wild, but their lifespan increases by nearly ten years in human care.
“We’re deeply saddened to share that Nias, the matriarch of our Sumatran orangutan family, ᴅɪᴇᴅ unexpectedly last Thursday,” the zoo wrote. “Nias came to Denver Zoo in 2005 when she was 17 years old and spent the last 15 years delighting guests and serving as an ambassador for her ᴄʀɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ-ᴇɴᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴇᴅ species.”
Soon after Nias’ passing, father Berani baffled everyone after taking the responsibility of raising his daughter, Cerah. As it turned out, Berani is doing a great job as a ‘mom.’
“It’s something incredible to see. It’s this giant male with this tiny baby,” zookeeper Cindy Cossaboon told KIRO7. “It’s one of those things where you have this ᴛᴇʀʀɪʙʟᴇ sᴛᴏʀᴍ, and then you have the rainbow at the end. He is doing a fantastic job. We couldn’t ask for better care for her.”
An extremely devoted father, Berani cuddles with his daughter when she goes to sleep, and he comforts her whenever she cries!
“Berani is so attentive and protective of her, seeing to all her needs,” Denver Zoo wrote on Facebook. “He will carry her, comfort her, and even snuggles her when she sleeps.”
The bond between Berani and Cerah quickly became the talk of the zoo. Visitors would gather for hours to watch the pair play and interact. Berani seemed to have an instinct for caring for the infant, and his affection for her grew stronger as time passed.
The story of Berani and Cerah is a touching example of the compassion and intelligence of orangutans. It highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect these magnificent animals and their habitats and the role that caregivers can play in helping ᴏʀᴘʜᴀɴᴇᴅ orangutans thrive. Ultimately, it reminds us that the bonds of love and family extend beyond humans to the animal kingdom.
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