This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
When Eve, a 24-year-old orangutan at Utah's Hogle Zoo, died three weeks after giving birth in November, it was a sad time, zoo keepers said. Especially because just a few months prior, Eli, the father of her newborn son, died in September of complications from breast cancer.
But Thursday, zookeepers were smiling and laughing as school kids gathered in excitement to watch 5-month-old Tuah, Eve and Eli's baby.
"The circumstances weren't what we would want with Eve and Elijah, but you know, we're lucky to have such a great team, and it's great to see him develop. It's like, one of your own," said Abby Green, zoo keeper and caretaker for the Bornean orangutan.
Zookeepers chose the name "Tuah" — "luck" in Malay. "Tuah" is also the letters of "Utah" rearranged, zoo keepers pointed out.
"We just feel so incredibly lucky to have him," Green said.
Tuah is now being cared for by his sister Acara, nine years his senior.
After Eve died, the zoo staff worked to raise Tuah, which required 24/7 care from workers who sometimes slept on the hay to be near him, Green said in a news release. Zoo keepers also taught Acara to take care of the infant, as the species requires care and nurturing for up to nine years after its birth.
"Keepers worked with Acara prior to Tuah's birth on how to be gentle around baby brother. But after Eve's passing, the training took on a new level of importance," a news release said. "Keepers started with baby dolls, teaching Acara how to hold a baby right-side-up." They also taught her the word "bottle" to bring the baby to the exhibit door for Tuah's feedings.
Saturday is a chance for Utahns to meet Tuah for the first time, at a baby shower scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hogle Zoo community relations director Erica Hansen said in the news release. The first 500 guests will get an 'I Met Tuah' button.
The zoo is also inviting people to bring gifts if they want. Green said Tuah likes to play with anything, even a paper plate.
Baby shower visitors can participate in kids' crafts, "orang selfies," face painting and lessons on the endangered species.
"With orangutans endangered in the wild, Hogle Zoo is hoping to educate guests on the plight of these magnificent creatures, what the zoo is doing to help and offer tips and ideas for how zoo guests here in Salt Lake City, can help orangutans in Asia," Hansen said.
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