In the wild, mother orangutans handle 100% of the parenting. They raise their young alone, creating one of the strongest bonds in nature. This singlehanded care makes orangutan moms unique—they spend more time with each child than almost any other species.
But at the Denver Zoo, something unexpected happened. Last month, Cerah, a two-year-old orangutan, lost her mother. Amazingly, her dad, Berani, stepped in to take over. Zoo staff were stunned; in the wild, male orangutans almost never raise their young. Yet here was Berani, doing his best to be both mom and dad for Cerah.
A few days ago, the zookeepers posted on Facebook: “Cerah couldn’t have asked for a better dad.” Berani has been protective and attentive, watching over Cerah like a mother would. Denver Zoo’s Public Relations Coordinator, Carlie McGuire, explained that Berani is different from most orangutan dads.
Cerah also has a half-sister, Hesty, who shares the same mother but has a different biological dad. Yet Berani has always treated Hesty like his own. So, it’s not surprising he stepped up to care for Cerah after her mom’s passing.
Carlie added that the whole troop is adjusting well. Eleven-year-old Hesty, just a few years from starting her own family, keeps Cerah entertained, playing with her throughout the day. While Berani has proven himself an extraordinary dad, he can never truly replace Nias, Cerah’s mom. Nias was a strong leader in their family, and her absence is deeply felt.
Nias, a Sumatran orangutan, passed away on December 17 at the age of 32. She joined the Denver Zoo family in 2005 at age 17 and quickly became a favorite among visitors. For 15 years, she also served as an ambassador for her critically endangered species. With only around 14,000 Sumatran orangutans left in the wild, they’re rapidly disappearing due to deforestation.
These tender moments between Berani and Cerah have been captured on camera, showing that with love, miracles can happen. Their bond tells a story words could never fully capture, reminding us of the magic in life’s unexpected connections.
More info: Facebook | DenverZoo.org
