Our friends at Bioparc Fuengirola are celebrating the birth of the latest member of their large animal family, a baby Borneo orangutan.
This baby orangutan’s mother, Suli, is handling motherhood well (this is her first baby) and is proving to be a caring and dedicated mum. Apparently, orangutans are the primates which dedicate most time to the upbringing of their young; normally until they reach the age of seven and without having any other offspring during this time. In comparison, gorillas and chimpanzees tend to dedicate 4 or 5 years to their young’s upbringing and, sometimes, looking after several at the same time.
If you’ve never been to Bioparc, now’s the perfect chance to visit this impressive zoo in the centre of Fuengirola. With a bit of luck, we’ll all be able to enjoy watching the new baby orangutan grow over the next seven years! 🙂
The birth of the baby orangutan coincides with the recent inauguration of the recently renovated Borneo Orangutan enclosure at Bioparc Fuengirola. Its new design and layout will favour the orangutan’s physical and mental development as it’s a recreation of old man-made ruins in Borneo which have become home to this species. The new baby orangutan and the rest of her family will be able to enjoy fantastic facilities which include a multitude of vines for climbing, the skeleton structure of an old temple and abundant vegetation.
We feel it’s important to highlight the fact that the Borneo Orangutan has recently been included in the list of endangered species by the International Union for Conservation or Nature (IUCN). Bioparc Fuengirola actively participates in the programme for the conservation and reproduction of the species in Europe in an effort to conserve the species outside of their natural habitat. They are also committed to helping conserve their natural habitat in Borneo, collaborating with the Borneo Nature Foundation. The orangutan’s home is under threat from the cutting of trees and massive fires caused by the palm oil and wood industries as well as the illegal poaching and trafficking of the species.
If you’re staying with us at Sunset Beach Club and would like to visit the orangutans and other animals at Bioparc Fuengirola, our colleagues at the Leisure Desk on the 6th floor of the hotel have entrance tickets you can purchase.
Enjoy!
