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A twoweekold, female Sumatran orangutan provided a big treat for visitors at the San Diego Zoo today when she and her mother, Indah, came out into the exhibit in public view for only the second time since the baby's birth. The newborn clung to her mother's chest as Indah climbed the ropes, cargo nets and sway poles in her habitat, stopping periodically at various perches. Indah gazed upon and gently cradled her baby as Zoo guests and employees watched with delight and took countless photos of the pair.

Indah gave birth to the baby Oct. 25 in her offexhibit bedroom under the watchful eyes of her keepers. "Immediately after the baby was born, Indah cleaned the baby's airways and inquisitively examined every inch of her," stated Tanya Howard, senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo. "Indah has been a very good mother, attentive to the newborn's every need and like all new mothers, sleeping when she has the chance."

Sporting shaggy, reddishorange hair in tufts all over her head, the little primate was born with spindly arms, longer than her body, and a natural instinct to hold tightly to her mother. Animal care staff will watch for her to sit and begin using her hands within the next few weeks; start eating soft fruit while still nursing at around three months of age; and when she is older and better at balancing, start riding "piggyback" on mom so she can better see what is happening around her. Orangutan youngsters typically stay with their mothers until they're about eight years old, the longest childhood of the great apes.

The Zoo's newest primate is the second baby born to Indah and father, Satu, who shares the same habitat but takes no role in caring for the youngster. With the birth of this baby, the Zoo is currently home to five orangutans, four Sumatran orangutans and one Bornean orangutan. There have been 38 orangutan births at the San Diego Zoo since 1928.

Visitors may see Indah and her baby yet to be named in their habitat on the Orangutan Trail at the San Diego Zoo. They also may be watched on the Zoo's Ape Cam at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/apecam.