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  • From: Carrie McLaren <carrie AT stayfreemagazine.org>
  • To: monkeywire AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [monkeywire] Orangutan's pregnancy baffles zoo officials
  • Date: Tue, 11 May 2004 11:58:06 -0400

Posted on Tue, May. 11, 2004

Orangutan's pregnancy baffles zoo officials

The Associated Press
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/nation/8636949.htm


ST. LOUIS - Despite a daily regimen of birth control pills, Merah the orangutan is pregnant. And St. Louis Zoo officials are uncertain who the father is.

"Needless to say, we have a lot of unanswered questions," primate curator Ingrid Porton said. "It's a little embarrassing, I have to admit."

Diligent about trying to prevent overcrowding and inbreeding, zookeepers have been giving 35-year-old Merah a daily birth control pill mixed into yogurt and honey. Porton suspects the mixture either spilled or was swiped by her 8-year-old son, Sugi.

The how is less important than the who, however. Scientists hope the father is 40-year-old Junior, a previous mate with great genes. They concede it could be Sugi, Merah and Junior's son. Merah has had liaisons with both.

"That's not uncommon in the wild or in captivity," Porton said.

Tests will determine paternity. Merah appears near the end of her eight-month term.

"If she is pregnant by Sugi, it's not the worst thing in the world. It's successive inbreeding that is a problem," Porton said. "But if she's pregnant by Junior, it's a wonderful thing."




  • [monkeywire] Orangutan's pregnancy baffles zoo officials, Carrie McLaren, 05/11/2004

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