A recent viral phenomenon has captured attention. It features mothers demonstrating breastfeeding techniques in front of an audience of orangutans.
According to a New York Post report from the 12th, 30 volunteers recently showcased breastfeeding methods to a 19-year-old orangutan, Mujur, at a zoo in Dublin, Ireland.
Previously, Mujur had given birth in 2019 and 2022 but failed to show maternal instincts towards her infants. Both newborns did not receive sufficient breastfeeding and tragically passed away.
When Mujur became pregnant again earlier this year, the zoo decided to use the orangutan’s natural ability to mimic human behavior to teach her how to breastfeed. Each day, up to four mothers demonstrated breastfeeding in front of Mujur, removing their tops and bras for the demonstration.
The zoo reported that “Mujur showed interest in the demonstrations and began mimicking the actions with her hands.”
Volunteer Nora Murphy noted, “Mujur watched intently as we demonstrated. Over time, she started to mimic the actions with her hands—it was truly magical.”
Despite showing signs of maternal care after giving birth on July 31, Mujur struggled with proper breastfeeding posture and was unable to feed her baby successfully. Consequently, the zoo decided to bottle-feed the newborn. The infant is scheduled to be transferred to a specialized facility in the UK within a few weeks.
Niamh McGill, a veterinarian at Dublin Zoo, explained, “Orangutans have a low reproductive rate and typically give birth only once every 3 to 5 years. Therefore, each birth is highly significant.”
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