Papa Orangutan Steps Up To Raise Daughter After Mama Orangutan Passes Away
Berani, a father orangutan at the Denver Zoo, did something many people never expected from a wild animal dad. After the mother of his baby, Nias, died suddenly, he stepped in and became the one caring for their daughter.
The loss left zoo staff preparing to raise the baby orangutan themselves, but Berani had other plans. Instead of staying on the sidelines, he began cuddling, carrying, and comforting his little one, turning a heartbreaking moment into an unexpected show of devotion.
It is a rare reminder that even in the wild, family bonds can surprise everyone. Read on.
The papa orangutan that defied all the odds
Orangutan females usually spend years of their lives caring for their little ones. Because of that, the bond between a mother orangutan and her offspring is probably one of the strongest in the animal kingdom.
As it is, nature has plenty of surprises. And while no one expects a father orangutan to take on the responsibility of raising its child, that is exactly what happened at the Denver Zoo.
It all started when the matriarch of the orangutan family passed away
The mother of the baby orangutan, Nias, sadly passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 32. Orangutans like her can live up to 40 years in the wild, but with human care, they can live even longer. However, the unexpected happened.
“We’re deeply saddened to share that Nias, the matriarch of our Sumatran orangutan family, died unexpectedly last Thursday,” the zoo wrote. “Nias came to Denver Zoo in 2005 when she was 17 years old and spent the last 15 years delighting guests and serving as an ambassador for her critically endangered species.”
That loss changed everything for the little family.
No one expected what was going to happen next
Soon after Nias passed away, everyone was shocked and baffled when the orangutan father, Berani, took over the responsibility of raising the daughter Nias left behind, named Cerah. Apparently, Berani is doing a stellar job at raising his daughter.
It's a rare and incredible thing to see
“It’s something incredible to see. It’s this giant male with this tiny, little baby,” zookeeper Cindy Cossaboon told KIRO7. “It’s one of those things where you have this terrible storm, and then you have the rainbow at the end. He is doing a fantastic job. We couldn’t ask for better care for her.”
Then Berani surprised everyone by stepping right in.
It also mirrors how a rejected baby monkey, after his mom turned him away, clung to comfort in a stuffed animal: Baby Monkey Rejected By His Mother Finds Comfort In A Stuffed Animal.
Berani is a wonderful dad
Everyone was delighted to discover that Berani is a wonderful dad. He cuddles with his daughter when she goes to sleep, and he even comforts her when she cries.
“Berani is so attentive and protective of her, seeing to all her needs,” Denver Zoo wrote on Facebook. “He will carry her, comfort her, and even snuggle with her when she sleeps.”
Nature really has plenty of wonderful surprises in store every single time. If Berani hadn't stepped in to care for his daughter, nobody would have batted an eye, but he did, and it's just wonderful.
Hopefully, they have the best of times together, and hopefully, they'll also develop a bond like no other.
Berani's sweet turn as a single dad is hard not to root for.
Before you go, see how an orangutan fought off an excavator trying to take its home, too: Orangutan Struggles to Defend Home Against Encroaching Excavator.
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