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LOS ANGELES, CA - Nov. 6, 2025 - Los Angeles Zoo staff, volunteers, and guests are beaming with joy over the birth of a new baby boy Bornean orangutan, which can be seen now at the Red Ape Rain Forest. The new infant was born to mom, Kalim (43), and dad, Isim (31), on Oct. 10. Mom and baby have been bonding behind the scenes and have now made their public debut together. This is the first offspring for the pair, Kalim and Isim, but the third offspring for mom, Kalim. "We're thrilled to welcome another new great ape to the Zoo," said Candace Sclimenti, Curator of Mammals at the Los Angeles Zoo. "This marks the first orangutan birth here since Elka was born nearly 15 years ago. Watching the orangutan group interact with the infant will be truly special, and we're excited for our guests to experience the joy of watching our growing orangutan family." Of all non-human primates, orangutans have the longest interbirth interval. A single infant is born and cared for by its mother for seven to eight years before another infant is born. Mothers have much to teach their young to survive. Lessons include what food to eat and how to avoid predators. "Kalim is an excellent mother with years of wisdom and lessons to teach her new little one," said Megan Fox, Senior Animal Keeper at the Los Angeles Zoo. "Elka has grown to be a wonderful young orangutan because of the excellent job Kalim has done rearing and raising her over the last 14 years. Guests will now have an opportunity to see unique behaviors and interactions that haven't been at Red Ape Rain Forest in a very long time. This is a fantastic moment for my team and the entire zoo to share!" The L.A. Zoo houses Bornean orangutans, one of the three species. The world's largest arboreal mammals, these apes spend about 90 percent of their time in trees. They use long hands and grasping feet to grip branches and pull themselves through the canopy. Adult males are the most solitary of the apes and defend their territories from other males. Males are about twice the size of females with an arm span of over seven feet. Translated from Malay, their name means "person of the forest," and they share 97 percent of their DNA with humans. Orangutans have a well-documented history of tool use. In the wild, branches are used as poles, hammers, and rakes to poke termite holes, test the depth of water, or reach their favorite fruit. Leaves are used as umbrellas, sunshades, sponges, and napkins. Orangutans have been known to engage in deceptive behavior to outwit their partners. Orangutans have demonstrated the ability to identify more than 72 symbols for common objects, numbers, and commands demonstrating a strong grasp of vocabulary and long-term memory. Bornean orangutans are categorized as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the wild, their populations continue to decline due to climate change and human activities that include habitat loss for mining and clear cutting of forests for palm oil plantations. L.A. Zoo guests can see Kalim and her new infant bonding together at the Red Ape Rain Forest exhibit, weather permitting.

Baby pictures: L.A. Zoo welcomes endangered Bornean orangutan

The unnamed auburn-haired infant was born Oct. 10, making him nearly 1 month old. He and mom Kalim recently made their public debut at the L.A. Zoo.

Zachary Bard and his son nine year-old Nicholas after checking on Nicholas's back yard bee hive, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Santa Rosa The bees are part of a 4-H program Nicholas is involved with. The family was hit with a code violation by the city for an alleged beekeeping business and has set off months long dispute with city planners. (Kent Porter / The Press Democrat)

California city tried to stamp out 10-year-old’s beehive project. Saving the bees was a lesson in love

A mountain lion captured by a pair of cyclists follows along a trail at Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park on Tuesday November 4, 2025, which forced a temporary shut down.

Mountain lion sightings close Orange County park. Expert calls cat behavior ‘super’ unusual

A Hawaiian green sea turtle, or honu, swims off the North Shore of O'ahu, Hawaii, in 2024. (Nathan Eagle/Civil Beat via AP)

Why Hawaii’s green sea turtles remain protected despite population recovery

In this photo provided by the Japan Self-Defense Forces Akita Camp, Self-Defense forces personnel unload a bear cage from a military truck in JSDF Akita Camp, Akita, northern Japan, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (JSDF Akita Camp via AP)

Japan deploys military to counter a surge in bear attacks

State agriculture dept. is hiding bird flu information, legal aid group alleges in lawsuit

Trump administration reopens Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling

Mississippi mom, fearing for her children’s safety, kills escaped monkey

Waymo killed KitKat. California neighborhood mourns a corner-store cat

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ALAMITOS BAY, CALIFORNIA--JUNE 6, 2019--Rog Hanson, 68, a retired school teacher, fell in love with scuba diving and the ocean after an encounter he had with a whale . He discovered a colony of seahorses by chance in 2016 and has been following them ever since. He teamed up with dive instructor Ashley Arnold two years ago to keep watch over a small colony of Pacific seahorses near . They know more about Pacific seahorse behavior than many scientists. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times)

Science & Medicine

A retired teacher found some seahorses off Long Beach. Then he built a secret world for them

Rog Hanson isn’t a scientist, but he’s likely spent more time with Pacific seahorses than anyone else. He built them a secret underwater city.

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