There’s something magical about new motherhood—those hours spent marveling at a tiny, perfect little life. It’s heartwarming to see in humans, but when animals share those tender moments with their babies, it’s downright enchanting.
Sekali, a Sumatran orangutan at the Toronto Zoo, welcomed a baby in April, and the zoo recently shared a video of the pair enjoying some quality bonding time. As her little one stretches out for “tummy time,” Sekali lovingly strokes and cuddles him, showing the kind of gentle affection every mother understands.
“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 baby is undeniably adorable, but the moment that really melted hearts? Sekali picking up his tiny foot and “kissing” it—pure sweetness.
Orangutan Tummy Time
The video quickly won over fans on the zoo’s Facebook page:
“LOOKS LIKE ALL MOMMA'S COUNTING THOSE LITTLE TOES AND FINGERS… SHE APPEARS TO BE SUCH A TENDER MOM!! 🙂❤ I LOVE THIS!!!!” one commenter wrote.
“Clearly his Mom just adores him so much,” added another. “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 baby!!!” another person shared.
A Species in Danger
As heartwarming as this story is, it also highlights a harsh reality: Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered.
Once listed as “endangered” by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN), the species was moved to the “critically endangered” category in 2017 due to habitat destruction, primarily caused by deforestation for palm oil plantations. According to the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme, only about 14,000 remain in the wild.
Captive breeding programs, like the Orangutan Species Survival Plan, aim to maintain genetic diversity, support research, and raise awareness rather than release animals back into the wild. While zoos have evolved to provide more naturalistic environments, they also play a key role in educating the public about conservation efforts.
“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. We are proud to play an important role in the conservation of this amazing species.”
Want to help? Learn more about orangutan conservation efforts at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme or the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy.