RECORD-BREAKING THIRD ORANGUTAN BIRTH AT SEMENGGOH

KUCHING (Malaysia), Feb 13 (Bernama) -- It was a record of sorts when a
third baby orangutan was born within a span of one week at the Semenggoh
Wildlife Centre here, home to numerous baby orangutan born in the semi-wild to
rehabilitated mothers.

The latest addition to its orangutan baby boom was a female, with the birth
taking place in the wild in the centre sometime around Feb 9 while another two
were born at the Matang Wildlife Centre in this capital of EAst Malaysia state
of Sarawak on Feb 3.

The mother, Delima, was last seen on Thursday and showed up this morning
with a healthy baby, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation said in a statement here.

"The yet-to-be named baby is estimated to weigh 1.5kg. The estimated date of
birth is based on the fact that the umbilical cord is already detached and
this usually happens within two days of giving birth," the statement says.

Delima previously gave birth to Annuar, a male. in 1999 and Selina, a
female, in 2004.

To date there are 25 orangutan in the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, of which 14,
including the latest addition, were born at the reserve.

Established in 1975, the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is located within the
boundaries of the reserve, about 24 km from here.

The centre has been a resounding success, caring for almost 1,000 endangered
mammals, birds and reptiles from dozens of species.

The statement says however, that it is the the orangutan rehabilitation
programme that has made the centre famous.

As a result of its success, Semenggoh's role has changed and it is now a
centre for the study of orangutan biology and behaviour as well as a
safe and natural haven for dozens of semi-wild orangutan, graduates of the
rehabilitation programme, it adds.

A visit to Semenggoh is a once-in-a-lifetime experience -- a chance to see
semi-wild orangutan, ranging from tiny infants and boisterous adolescents to
dignified mature adults, enjoying life in a secure natural habitat.
-- BERNAMA