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A new orangutan is in town.<\/p>\n
And it is stealing hearts and racking up views and likes on social media.<\/p>\n
The baby Bornean orangutan was born three weeks ago on March 23, according to social media posts by Mandai Wildlife Reserve on Friday (April 10).\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We have a feeling this is just the beginning”, said the wildlife parks operator.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a video posted by Mandai Wildlife Reserve, the auburn-haired female baby orangutan can be seen clinging on to its mother, Miri.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Miri and her newborn are doing well,” shared Wendy Chua, who is a curator for animal care (operations) at Mandai Wildlife Group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The pair had time to rest, bond and adjust comfortably while continuing to receive close care from the team after Miri gave birth at Orangutan Island in Singapore Zoo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She added that the 33-year-old mother “has been calm, attentive and protective, keeping her baby close as they gradually settle back into their familiar surroundings”.<\/p>\n
The Instagram post has since garnered more than 2,100 likes and 33,000 views.<\/p>\n
Netizens gushed over the baby orangutan’s birth in the comments section.<\/p>\n
Said one commenter: “Cuteness overload.”<\/p>\n
“She’s so precious!!!” exclaimed another user.<\/p>\n
The pair was returned to the exhibit on April 7.<\/p>\n
Orangutans are found in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra and can move easily through the treetops.<\/p>\n
All three subspecies of the great apes are critically endangered.<\/p>\n
The addition of the female baby orangutan at the Singapore Zoo follows the recent birth of a Sunda pangolin<\/a>, which is also critically endangered, at the Night Safari on March 1.<\/p>\n [[nid:730740]]<\/p>\n