Orangutan gives birth in Surakarta

Mother's love: Tori, an orangutan at Taru Jurug Zoo in Surakarta, Central Java, holds her newly-born baby on Thursday. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)Tori, the orangutan who made international news this year with her smoking habits, has given birth at Taru Jurug zoo in Surakarta, Central Java, a zoo veterinarian confirmed.

“Our orangutan keeper confirmed the news yesterday. We don’t know yet if the new arrival is a boy or a girl. The mother is very protective of her new baby,” zoo vet Nuraini said on Thursday.

The zoo will hold a competition on Nov. 5, National Animal Day, to name the new arrival, who brings the orangutan population of Taru Jurug zoo up to five.

Tori made international news in July due to her prolonged smoking habit. Tori cadged lit cigarettes from visitors and had tantrums when her partner Didik, a non-smoker, stamped out the cigarettes thrown into their enclosure. (swd)