New Baby Orangutan and Your Opportunity to Name Her

Have you been to the Greenville Zoo?  Now you can name the new baby orangutan.  Lana, the zoo’s female Sumatran orangutan has a one month old daughter.  Mother and baby are enjoying some sunshine in a newly made “kid-friendly” exhibit.  Their time on exhibit will be rotated with father Kumar, who will have access to the exhibit during the cooler morning hours.

Lana and the baby will have access to the exhibit during the warmer part of the day, from around noon until closing. This rotation will continue for several months and the staff will closely monitor and record the family’s interactions inside (between the mesh separating their dens) to help determine the appropriate time to introduce Kumar to the baby.

Beginning today, zoo supporters can submit their favorite names online for a suggested donation of $15 (any amount will be accepted). Those who do not wish to donate can submit their name suggestions via mail to Baby Orangutan, C/O Greenville Zoo, 150 Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville, SC 29601. To further the zoo’s mission of promoting conservation efforts, the funds raised through the baby naming will be used to support the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, which is the only project actively establishing new, genetically viable and self-sustaining wild populations of any great ape species, anywhere in the world.

The contest ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 30 and the winning name will be selected by the staff members who have been caring for the baby since her birth. The winning name will be announced on Thursday, October 4.