Yahoo – AFP,
14 Oct 2015
Sydney
(AFP) - An Australian zoo Wednesday unveiled a baby chimp adopted by a pregnant
female in an "unheard of" act after his mother died during birth.
The baby,
whose name Boon means blessing, was orphaned when mum Soona died shortly after
he was born at Monarto Zoo, southeast of Adelaide, late last week.
The
adoption of another female's baby by a
pregnant female, an "unheard
of" act amoungst
chimps, has happened at Monarto Zoo in
Australia (AFP
Photo/David Mattner)
|
The zoo's
senior primate keeper Laura Hanley said she did not know of anywhere else in
the world where a pregnant chimpanzee had taken on the role of surrogate to
another infant, so close to a birth of her own.
"I'm
humbled by what we've seen from the chimpanzee troop over the last few days --
it's unheard of to see a heavily pregnant chimpanzee adopt an orphaned newborn
infant," she said in a statement as the "miracle" baby made his
public debut.
"From
the minute she first cradled the newborn, she's been amazing -- grooming,
supporting and nursing the little man as though he was her own.
"The
unique situation certainly reinforces the strong bond our chimps share and the
similarities these amazing creatures have with their closest living relative,
us."
Hanley said
she was optimistic Zombi would continue to care for Boon once her own baby was
born later this month.
No comments:
Post a Comment