UK's first ultrasound for pregnant Orangutan

KentOnline / KMTV

Six month pregnant primate Awan was given a baby shower, where the mum-to-be was even given gifts.  Ollie Leader reports...

Transcript

00:00We've all probably attended at least one baby shower in our lives,

00:05though perhaps not for an orangutan.

00:08The balloons, cakes and even presents came courtesy of the keepers here

00:13at the Wingham Wildlife Park,

00:15all celebrating the first pregnancy of 13-year-old Arwan,

00:21who only moved into the park last year.

00:24But a pregnant primate isn't all monkeying around.

00:30Well done.

00:31Before she could join in on the celebrations,

00:35the on-site vet had to check in on the incoming arrival.

00:40Obviously, it was a real learning process for us all,

00:42and we just, you know, were incredibly impressed

00:45with how well she's been doing with us, really,

00:47because it really wouldn't take her much to not cooperate.

00:51So, yes, I think she's, yeah, she's a standard of us all, really,

00:54with how well she's tolerated her ultrasound training.

00:57And it's been really nice for us, I think,

00:59to be able to check in and just make sure everything's going okay,

01:02because, of course, it's always an exciting

01:04but quite a nerve-wracking time for everyone here

01:06because these guys are so important.

01:09So we just want to make sure we do the very best we possibly can.

01:12Arwan is quite a natural when it comes to the ultrasound.

01:15Having had one every single week during the pregnancy,

01:19expected to come to an end in July.

01:22And it is a unique procedure happening here in Wingham

01:26because it's a UK first when it comes to orangutans.

01:31I don't know if anybody else has done it, I've done it.

01:33I'm pretty sure we haven't.

01:34I think we're the first.

01:35And she's like, yeah, put the jelly on me.

01:37I'll have it up.

01:38Yeah, I don't mind that jelly on my belly.

01:39And she has it.

01:40I don't know if you was in their video and then she saw it.

01:42But she just loves it.

01:44She's really good.

01:44She's easy for the keepers to work with.

01:46And they're working day in and day out with her,

01:48trying to get her ready.

01:48Because obviously when she's having a baby,

01:50we need to be able to see that baby.

01:52So we want her to bring it close to us.

01:54And with our chimps, the mum brings the baby up, shows us.

01:56And with our chimp, we bottle feed the baby as well

01:59to give it a bit of extra.

02:00And so we want the Aran,

02:01we want the Howard to bring that baby up towards us.

02:04There's just one catch though.

02:06An orangutan ultra scan isn't that sophisticated.

02:10And certain key details are a mystery.

02:14But when the baby's born later this year,

02:18it's safe to say that the wildlife park will go ape once again.

02:23Ollie Lieder for KMTV in Wingham.

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