Infant Orangutan Introduced to Foster Mother Madu at Zoo Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. - An exciting day at Zoo Atlanta with the arrival of Keju the Bornean orangutan.

Keju has been introduced to Madu, a 32-year-old Sumatran orangutan, with heartwarming results: Keju has become Madu’s fourth foster child and first foster daughter.

The six-month-old Keju arrived in Atlanta on October 18, 2015, from the Dane County Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin. The Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP) recommended that Keju be transferred to Zoo Atlanta after it became evident that her biological mother was not likely to provide appropriate maternal care. Madu, who has an outstanding track record for surrogacy although she has no biological offspring, has accepted the youngster as her own. The pair has already begun developing the important bond that is one of the closest and longest-lasting of relationships between young animals and their mothers. 

Keju and Madu are not yet on exhibit full-time.