Toronto Zoo unveils name of baby orangutan
The Toronto Zoo has unveiled the name of one of its newest members.
A baby boy Sumatran orangutan has been named Wali, which means guardian in Indonesian.
The zoo says his name is fitting as “Sumatran orangutans are the guardians of the rainforests.”
“The Wildlife Care keepers put forth some wonderful names, but one of these suggestions stood out as the clear winner, and we are thrilled to introduce you to Wali!,” the zoo said in a news release Friday.
The zoo held a name reveal party for the baby on Friday, which also marks World Orangutan Day.
Toronto Zoo CEO Dolf DeJong was in attendance for the celebration, along with Consul General from the Indonesian Consulate Dyah Lestari.
In photos from the event, Wali’s mother, 29-year-old Sekali, is seen lifting a box and revealing her little one’s name.
Shortly after Wali was born on April 8, 2022, the zoo held a name guessing campaign for the public to contribute suggestions.
“We had thousands of people participate in our name guessing campaign, and it’s wonderful to include our community in these important milestones” DeJong said in a statement. “The birth of a critically endangered orangutan is an important contribution to a genetically healthy Sumatran orangutan population in human care, and his name represents the crucial fight orangutans in the wild are currently facing.”
The zoo says there were an estimated 240,000 orangutans in the wild 10 years ago and today there are only about 120,000 remaining.
“With more than half the population gone in only 10 years, the threat of extinction is very real. This is mainly due to habitat loss because of the rapid expansion of palm plantations which supply western demands for palm oil,” the zoo wrote.
Wali is Sekali’s second child but her first with Budi, a 16-year-old male orangutan, who she was paired with at the recommendation of the Association of Zoos and the Aquariums Orangutan Species Survival Plan.
The Toronto Zoo houses the only Sumatran orangutans in Canada.
The zoo is also in the final stages of completing its new outdoor orangutan habitat, which is expected to be open by Spring 2023.
The zoo says the new habitat will allow the orangutans to experience a “wider range of sights and sounds, and travel around on special overhead lines to areas outside the new habitat.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
DEVELOPING Trump trial arrives at a pivotal moment: Star witness Michael Cohen is poised to take the stand
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
India's mammoth election is more than halfway done as millions begin voting in fourth round
Millions of Indians across 96 constituencies began casting their ballots on Monday as the country's gigantic, six-week-long election edges past its halfway mark. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term with an eye on winning a supermajority in Parliament.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.