There’s a new bundle of joy at Fresno Chaffee Zoo, and the public gets to help name her.

The zoo announced the birth of a female Sumatran orangutan on Oct. 5 to mother Negara and father Busar.

The newborn and her mother are spending time behind the scenes as they bond under the supervision of the zoo’s Animal Care and Veterinary teams.

“We’re excited to expand our orangutan troop with another baby,” said Nicole Presley, the Zoo’s General Curator. “This is Negara’s first baby here at Fresno Chaffee Zoo and she is doing a fantastic job.”

The baby is the first born to Negara and Busar at Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

Help Name the Newest Arrival

While the mother and daughter continue bonding, the zoo is inviting the community to help choose a name for its newest resident.

Visitors can head to the orangutan habitat in Kingdoms of Asia to participate in a special naming vote.

The three names under consideration are Marigold, Ru, and Lyra.

The name receiving the most votes will be announced on the zoo’s social media channels.

A Birth That Supports Conservation

The newborn’s arrival also highlights conservation efforts for Sumatran orangutans, which are classified as critically endangered in the wild by the IUCN Red List.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan and Orangutan SAFE programs, which support conservation efforts for the species.

Community members who want to support the zoo’s newest arrival and other baby animals can also purchase virtual adoptions through the zoo’s website at fcz.org/zooborns.

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