There’s something truly magical about new motherhood—the quiet moments spent marveling at the tiny, perfect features of a newborn. It’s heartwarming when humans do it, but seeing animals share those tender moments with their babies is even more special.
Sekali, a Sumatran orangutan at the Toronto Zoo, gave birth in April, and a recent video captures the precious bond she shares with her little one. As the baby enjoys some “tummy time,” Sekali gently strokes and cuddles him, radiating pure love. “Sekali continues to take excellent care of her little one, and he appears to be more alert and mobile,” the zoo shared. “Keepers are seeing the baby standing up while holding onto mom and sitting up on his own now, so he is growing stronger each day.”
The highlight of the video? Sekali picking up her baby’s tiny foot and giving it a sweet little “kiss”—a moment that melted hearts everywhere.
A Tender Moment That Touched Many
People flooded the Toronto Zoo’s Facebook page with adoration for the gentle mother and her baby:
💬 “LOOKS LIKE ALL MOMMA’S COUNTING THOSE LITTLE TOES AND FINGERS… SHE APPEARS TO BE SUCH A TENDER MOM!! ❤️”
💬 “Clearly his Mom just adores him so much. She is such a good mom… he's so sweet and bright-eyed—a happy and content little guy.”
💬 “I’m going to get in trouble for saying this, but that little one is cuter than a lot of babies! Just look how gentle she is with him!”
The Urgent Need for Conservation
While this moment is heartwarming, it also highlights an urgent issue. Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered, with their wild populations threatened by deforestation, mainly due to palm oil plantations. Today, only around 14,000 remain in the wild.
Captive breeding programs, such as the Orangutan Species Survival Plan, aim to maintain genetic diversity and raise awareness for conservation efforts. Though zoos have evolved to provide more natural environments, the ultimate goal is to inspire people to care about orangutans in the wild.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome this new addition to the Toronto Zoo family,” said Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong. “This orangutan baby is an important contribution to a genetically healthy Sumatran orangutan population in human care. Meanwhile, Sumatran orangutans are under increasing pressure in the wild due to habitat loss and the palm oil crisis, which we are working with partners to address.”
Want to help? Visit the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme or the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy to learn more.