When staff at Dublin Zoo learned that Mujur, a 19-year-old orangutan, was pregnant, they decided to implement a unique training approach. Mujur had previously struggled to bond with her infants, who passed away in 2019 and 2022. To help her improve her maternal skills, the zoo invited breastfeeding mothers to assist.
Lizzie Reeves, a midwife and lactation specialist from the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin, organized a group of 30 mothers to participate. The orangutan house was temporarily closed to the public while the mothers breastfed their babies in view of Mujur. The zoo reported that Mujur showed great interest in observing the women and even mimicked some of their actions.
Reeves noted that many mothers removed their shirts and bras to allow Mujur to see more clearly. Nora Murphy, a first-time mother from Rathfarnham, Dublin, said she looked forward to telling her 10-month-old daughter, Elodi, about the experience. “You’re transitioning from being a mother yourself to helping another mother-to-be,” Murphy explained.
In addition to the live demonstrations, Mujur was shown videos of other orangutans nursing their young. Mujur gave birth to a healthy male on July 31 and initially displayed good maternal care. However, she did not hold the infant in the ideal position for feeding.
Due to the infant’s genetic significance—his father, Sibu, a prominent orangutan, passed away in February—the zoo decided to intervene. The decision was made to separate the infant from Mujur and start bottle-feeding him.
In a few weeks, the infant will be transferred to Monkey World, a 65-acre center in Dorset, England, known for its expertise in raising orangutans. The zoo expressed sadness about the departure but confidence that the infant is being sent to a place where he can thrive. “The whole team has already fallen hopelessly in love with him, and it will be difficult to say goodbye,” the zoo said.
