Wisconsin zoo announces orangutan pregnant; ‘baby watch’ begins this month

MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin zoo will soon add another member to growing family – a baby orangutan.

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According to WMTV, the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison announced Thursday that Bornean orangutan Chelsea, 31, is pregnant with her second child. Zoo staffers will be on “baby watch” starting May 22, but she could give birth during “a window of several weeks,” officials said in a Facebook post.

“Orangutan pregnancies can be detected just like human ones using an over-the-counter pregnancy test,” the post read. “Orangutan pregnancies are slightly shorter than human ones. Chelsea is receiving weekly ultrasounds, and the zoo’s animal care team is tracking her weight to help measure the size of the fetus, which is currently about the size of a papaya.”

The mom-to-be will have a baby shower at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, the zoo added.

“Chelsea will receive baby shower enrichment, and guests will be able to learn more about Bornean orangutans and hear from our animal care staff about how we are supporting Chelsea during her pregnancy,” officials said in the Facebook post.

The zoo also is seeking donations for Chelsea, according to its website. Patrons can send her a gift from her Amazon wish list or donate money online.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources considers Bornean orangutans critically endangered. An estimated 104,700 remain in the wild, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

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