October 14, 2011 Mama and Me

[CaliforniaMama]

A tender moment transpires between mother and infant orangutans in Borneo’s Tanjung Puting National Park. The arboreal species has one of the longest intervals between births among mammals, typically around eight years.

Image and quote via National Geographic

This photo really caught my eye. It is just so sweet and tender, and human-like. I read so much more tenderness into the picture knowing that this mama will likely only have three babies in her lifetime.

She raises each baby for about eight years before sending it off on its own (Honolulu Zoo). I think that must make each baby very special to her.

Despite their wild appearance, mother orangutans raise their offspring protectively and affectionately. Observation at Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, shows that a mother orangutan will cradle her baby tightly and give it caresses and kisses. She will also attempt to keep others from looking at her baby by shielding it with her arms and moving away from observers. This nurturing attitude helps to lower orangutan infant mortality rates both in captivity and in the wild.

Quote via: eHow.com

More interesting facts at Mongabay.