Orangutan Gets a Lactation Consultant

Zoe the orangutan was born at the Metro Richmond Zoo and was soon orphaned when her mother died. At age 12, she had a son named Taavi, but didn't breastfeed him and he was hand-fed by zoo staff. This past December, Zoe gave birth to her second child, but still didn't know how to breastfeed. She didn't have the experience of being around other orangutans when they raised their children. That behavior can be instinctual in many animals, but it appears to be a learned behavior in higher primates. Before Zoe's second baby arrived, zookeepers had shown her videos of orangutans nursing their babies. But she needed more.

Whitlee Turner, a zookeeper who had a four-month-old son, agree to help teach Zoe what to do. She brought her baby Caleb to the zoo and introduced him to Zoe. Then she breastfed Caleb so Zoe could see. Zoe watched intently, but did not immediately imitate Turner, However, within 24 hours, zookeepers noticed Zoe breastfeeding! The new orangutan baby, who does not yet have a name, is reportedly thriving. (via Metafilter)