‘Mr. Mom’: Male Orangutan Steps Up To Care For 2-Year-Old Daughter After Death Of Matriarch

CBS Denver

January 13, 2021

DENVER (CBS4) — A male orangutan has taken on an unusual role at the Denver Zoo, after the death of the family’s matriarch last month. Nias, a Sumatran orangutan, died unexpectedly on Dec. 17 at age 32. Nias had two daughters — Hesty, who is 10, and Cerah, who is just two years old. On Tuesday, zoo officials said Cerah’s father, Berani, had “stepped up to the plate” and was taking care of the youngster.

“In the wild, orangutan males are not involved with their offspring. To see Berani step up as Mr. Mom, is an extremely rare situation—and Cerah couldn’t have asked for a better dad,” officials said.

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