By Aimee Braniff Cree
ADORABLE IMAGES celebrate newly-named seven week-old Bornean orangutan Rufus playing peek-a-boo with his mum at Blackpool Zoo.
Images show this cutest baby being held close in mum’s arms, but always ready for mischief he peeks through mum’s hair in a game of peek-a-boo while proud mum Summer lays kisses on her precious baby.
Summer shares baby Rufus with male Kawan, who came to the zoo in 2022, from Apenheul Zoo in the Netherlands as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
He is the father of both this newborn and last year’s baby ‘Jarang’.
Since 2016, wild Bornean orangutans have been classified as critically endangered with a decreasing population trend.
From 1950 to 2010, the world’s Bornean orangutan populations decreased by more than 60% and a further 22% decline is projected between 2010 and 2025.
These rare images were captured by photographer Gary Cox (53) from Manchester England..
Gary captured the important orangutan on his Canon 80D camera.
“The new baby orangutan was fairly elusive most of the day, staying very close to mum. I did get the odd glimpse when mum went for a walk and showed off her new baby to the adoring public,” said Gary.
“Baby orangutans do stay close to mum where she shows incredible nurturing. However, they are also very proud and tend to show off their young to everybody.
“You get an amazing sense of awe and wonderment when seeing such a young baby. The fact that this is the second birth at the zoo in a year of such a critically endangered species makes this even more special.
“I love the shot of the baby peeping through its mums fur, where only half its face is showing.
“This just sums up how very close he is staying with his mum.
“Also, the shots of Summer kissing his head portrays the perfect mothering instinct. Then the photo of the baby cradled in mum’s arms are also favourites of mine.
“They show the perfect blend of nature and nurture. It is obvious how strong the bond is when you see them.
“It is definitely what being a photographer is all about. Capturing such beautiful and tender moments between mum and baby does not happen every day so you need to embrace these moments when they come along.”
According to the zoo, the inspiration for the name came after patients and staff from Calea Homecare, which supports children affected by an acute and chronic medical condition that requires Home Parenteral Nutrition (HPN) , enjoyed a recent visit to the zoo.
“They brought along their mascot, Rufus the orangutan, who was created to engage with patients and their families, empowering kids to better understand their condition,” a zoo spokesperson said.
“With Bornean orangutans being critically endangered and facing a high risk of extinction, breeding programmes like the EEP are essential for their survival.
“We’re thrilled that Rufus is part of a new generation here at Blackpool Zoo, contributing to the conservation of this incredible species.”
ENDS
