SINGAPORE: Singapore Zoo has welcomed the birth of Ayaan, a male Sumatran orangutan delivered by caesarean section following a high-risk pregnancy believed to be the first documented case of its kind in an orangutan where both mother and infant survived.
Born on March 18 to 29-year-old Chomel after 233 days of pregnancy, Ayaan – whose name means blessing – is the first offspring of 48-year-old Charlie under a regional breeding programme coordinated by Mandai Wildlife Group.
Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, Deputy CEO of Life Sciences and Chief Life Sciences Officer, said Ayaan’s birth followed years of planning and collaboration while also reflecting the balance between allowing nature to take its course and intervening when necessary.
The zoo began hormone profiling between September 2021 and April 2023 after unsuccessful pairings between Charlie and Chomel since 2018 before carrying out artificial insemination attempts in May 2022, March 2023 and July 2025, with the third attempt resulting in a successful pregnancy.
The pregnancy progressed normally until January when Chomel experienced two episodes of vaginal bleeding and was later diagnosed with placenta praevia, leading to round-the-clock monitoring and a planned caesarean section supported by veterinary, obstetric and neonatal specialists.
Ayaan was delivered after a 20-minute procedure and required seven minutes of stabilisation before being placed in an incubator, while Dr Heng Yirui said Chomel’s calm and cooperative nature during routine health checks played an important role throughout the pregnancy.
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Following two months of recovery and bonding away from public view, Chomel and Ayaan have returned to the orangutan enclosure, where she is also nursing another infant, Lio, as the zoo said Ayaan’s birth contributes to conservation efforts for critically endangered Sumatran orangutans.
