Saint Paul, MN (December 9, 2008) – Last December, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory welcomed the newest addition to its primate family with the birth of a male Sumatran orangutan via cesarean section- a medical first for the historic Saint Paul Zoo and one of only 9 c-sections in over 1,600 orangutan births documented in zoos worldwide.  On Thursday, December 11 Como will be celebrating Jaya's, pronounced Jī'- ya meaning a celebration or victorious, first birthday with cake and hats among all the primates as a part of their daily enrichment.

Animal enrichment programs encourage animals to use their natural abilities and behaviors to interact with their environment. It increases activity and offers an opportunity for animals to make choices and experience new things as they would in the wild. Zookeepers use novelty foods, sounds, smells, boxes, bags and toys to provide activities that stimulate all the senses.  For this special birthday celebration, the primates will be getting cake and party hats.

The baby’s successful birth is the result of a partnership that merged the skills of Como Zoo’s zookeepers and veterinarians from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, along with medical staff from University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview including two OB-GYN physicians.  Young off-spring will stay with their mother until their are 8-9 years old, the longest youth/mother relationship besides humans.

About 200 orangutans are currently on exhibit in zoos throughout the U.S.  Their native population, found only in Sumatra and Borneo, has drastically dwindled due to logging, conversion of habitat to palm oil plantations, and a series of wild fires –all of which put the species under the treat of extinction, potentially within the next 10-15 years.  Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered with approximately only 7,000 left in the wild.  Oranguntans are the largest arboreal (tree-dwelling) mammal.  “Orang-utan” means “person of the forest”.  They are the only Great Ape found in Asia.

Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Background

For over 100 years, Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota has charmed, educated and entertained millions of children and adults while fostering an appreciation of the natural world.  The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is open 365 days; 10am-6pm from April 1-October 1 and 10am - 4pm from October 2-March 31.  Admission to both the Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conservatory is always free and a voluntary donation is appreciated.

For more information, visit www.comozooconservatory.org.