Are you my new mummy? The moment wide-eyed orphan chimp meets his adoptive mother for the first time
Friday, September 21, 2012
10:07 PM
By Sara Malm
This is the moment a wide-eyed young chimpanzee meets his adoptive mother for the first time.
Little Ruben lost his biological mother Rukiya when he was less than a day old and after her death his father rejected him.
The eight month old chimpanzee was treated roughly by other primates at a Florida zoo leading his keepers to begin a desperate search to find him an adoptive family.
Hi mum: A photographer captioned the moment Ruben met his new adoptive mother at Oklahoma City Zoo
Unfortunately the staff at Lowry Park Zoo, Tampa was in for an upward struggle after a failed adoption left Ruben alone again.
Finally, after yet another search across U.S. zoological parks they found an adoptive mother - Kito in Oklahoma - and Ruben moved to his new family a few weeks ago.
Now the little chimp is smiling and playing in his new home, hugging his new mother and getting up to mischief with his siblings.
Oklahoma City Zoo runs a successful surrogacy program for abandoned animals.
Giddy up mummy: Chimpanzee Ruben hitches a ride on his surrogate mum Kito's back in his new enclosure
Finding a home: Ruben had one failed adoption attempt behind him when he went to meet his new mother Kito
Robin Newby, Oklahoma City Zoo Great EscApe supervisor, said:’It's rewarding when we can create a family for these endangered and at-risk animals.’
Laura Bottaro, Oklahoma City Zoo mammal curator, added: ‘Our Zoo has had two successful chimpanzee surrogate situations and we are gaining a good reputation among accredited zoos for our surrogate program.’
Explorer: Chimpanzee Ruben seen walking in his enclosure at Lowry Park Zoo before his move to Oklahoma
All smiles: After his mothers death and his fathers rejection, little Ruben is happy again with his new family
Alan Varsik, Oklahoma City Zoo deputy director, said: ‘The big benefit of being accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is collaboration with other zoos.
‘This is especially true for the well-being of our animals, such as being able to provide the long-term social health of this infant chimp, Ruben.’
New family: Chimpanzee Ruben, his surrogate mother, Kito, and new sibling Siri
Monkeying about: Ruben happily playing peek-a-boo with his new keepers as her settles in with his family
source:dailymail
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