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