Batu and Godek Sitting in a Tree

BATU GODEK AND

SITTING IN A TREE

Have you seen Godek and Batu on the Trail of Vines? The young orangutans are now living together after being introduced earlier in summer 2021.

The Orangutan Species Survival Plan identified Batu as a future breeding mate for Godek, our 12-year-old, male Sumatran orangutan who has lived at the zoo since 2017. Batu, also 12, arrived in May from Philadelphia Zoo. Species Survival Plans are conservation breeding programs across accredited zoos to help ensure healthy, self-sustaining populations of threatened and endangered species.

While Godek showed interest in Batu, she was tentative at first. After thoughtful introductions, animal keepers looked to Batu to tell them when she was ready for more time with Godek; the two are now quite smitten. Batu is described by her animal keepers as confident, inquisitive and playful. “Batu means ‘rock’ in Malay, and she is going to be that to us here at Woodland Park Zoo as we begin our new foundation of a Sumatran breeding program for future generations,” says orangutan keeper Carolyn Sellar.

L IS FOR LIST. Use our wildlife-friendly shopping guide to save orangutan habitat a world away: www.zoo.org/palmoil. The list features companies that are committed to sourcing certified sustainable palm oil that is deforestation free.

O IS FOR OPTIMISM. Woodland

Park Zoo supports the HUTAN-Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Program and Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program, both on the island of Borneo. These incredible people are doing remarkable things for orangutans.

V IS FOR VISITS. Every visit to the zoo is a conservation action. Admissions and zoo memberships help support animal care and conservation initiatives as well as more than 35 wildlife conservation projects in the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

E IS FOR EMPATHY. Did you

know Woodland Park Zoo has an entire team dedicated to fostering empathy for animals like orangutans and works with partners across the nation to inspire conservation action? Check it out!