Orangutan Days 7-9 June
During Whitsun, Aalborg Zoo and Save the Orangutan are organising "Orangutan Days" at Aalborg Zoo. Aalborg Zoo is the only place in Denmark where you can meet the critically endangered Bornean orangutan. There are fewer than 50,000 orangutans left in Borneo today and the species has experienced a significant decline in recent years.
10.30: (Sunday only) Orangutans are fed and the zookeepers talk.
11.30: The orangutans are fed and the zookeepers talk.
11-16: In the square by the orangutan house you can:
- Meet representatives from Save the Orangutan
- Visit the pet sitter's kitchen at the outdoor facility
- Chat to zoo staff and you can find out much more about the endangered orangutan.
- Take part in The Big Palm Oil Quiz and win an annual pass to Aalborg Zoo.
13-14: Meet Safari Simon and Pongo the orangutan in the square by the Orangutan House.
16.00: Wild knowledge on the Zoo Stage
Orangutans belong to the primates and are the most arboreal of them all. They only live in Borneo and Sumatra in Asia.
Aalborg Zoo is the only place in Denmark where you can meet orangutans. You can see two of these red apes in the facility, the male Pal and the female Ruti.
Ruti gave birth to a female baby on 28 May and they are both doing very well.
Orangutans are highly endangered in the wild and their numbers have declined drastically over many years. The decline in numbers is due to massive tree felling, hunting and trapping.
Tree felling is the biggest factor in terms of threats, as it means animals lose their habitats.
Come and meet Aalborg Zoo's new little miracle ❤️
Early Wednesday morning, the silence in the orangutan enclosure was broken by something very special: a new life had been born. Ruti the orangutan had given birth to a baby - wet, fragile and brand new to life. It was a moment that stirred the emotions of zookeepers and animal lovers alike.
But the start of life was not without its bumps. As a first-time mum, Ruti didn't quite know how to take care of her baby. She was curious and loving - but confused. The baby cried and the mother tried to comfort it with gentle touches, but didn't put it to her breast. The carers could only watch - and hope.
A motherhood emerges
Ruti has never had a mum to look up to. She is part of an international breeding programme and came to Aalborg Zoo in 2022, where she was matched with the male Pal. The fact that they found each other at all and had a cub is a great victory in itself - and proof that they are thriving.
A very special moment
After a few nerve-wracking days, the miracle happened. With the help of both keepers and a brave guest with her newborn baby, Ruti suddenly showed what no one could teach her: She put her cub to her breast - and it began to suckle. A moment of relief and joy that was felt throughout the garden.
Today, the little one is snuggled up to his mum, fed with milk and love - and growing day by day. And the best part? You can come and experience it for yourself.
Visit us and see the new hope with your own eyes
Ruti and her youngsters are now seen more often in the facility, where they quietly find their rhythm together. It's life, presence and a miracle of nature - in the centre of Aalborg.
Come and share the joy with us. We promise it's an experience you'll never forget.