For seven minutes, Mandai Wildlife Group’s veterinary team fought to save a newborn orangutan after an extremely rare caesarean section.
The baby was weak, cold to the touch and had low oxygen and heart rate. But he pulled through.
After weeks of recovery and bonding with his mother behind the scenes, he is now strong enough for visitors to catch a glimpse of him.
His name is Ayaan.
His birth is believed to be the first documented case globally involving placenta praevia in an orangutan where both mother and baby survived.
A Baby Orangutan Who Nearly Did Not Make It
Ayaan was born on 18 March 2026 to Chomel, a 29 year old Sumatran orangutan.
During her pregnancy, Chomel developed placenta praevia. This is a dangerous condition where the placenta blocks the birth canal.
Natural delivery became extremely risky, so the team planned a C section to give both mother and baby the best chance of survival.
When Ayaan was delivered, the medical team had to act fast. They stabilised him and placed him in an incubator while Chomel recovered from surgery.
When Chomel woke up, she embraced her baby.
Image from Mandai Wildlife Group
Visitors Can Now See Ayaan At Singapore Zoo
After two months of recovery and bonding time, Chomel and Ayaan have returned to the orangutan habitat at Singapore Zoo.
Ayaan is now growing stronger each day. Like most babies, he spends most of his time nursing, sleeping and clinging closely to mum.
Visitors may also spot another baby orangutan named Lio with them.
In a heartwarming twist, Chomel is now nursing both Ayaan and Lio after Lio’s biological mother had difficulty feeding him.
When To Visit
Chomel and the babies are expected to be at the orangutan exhibit from Thursday to Sunday and on public holidays.
The adult males, Charlie and Riau, usually take over the exhibit from Monday to Wednesday.
However, sightings are not guaranteed. As Chomel is caring for two babies, she may sometimes retreat to quieter areas.
Ayaan Is Also Part Of Ah Meng’s Legacy
Here is where the story gets even more Singaporean.
Chomel is the granddaughter of Ah Meng, Singapore Zoo’s legendary orangutan and one of Singapore’s most beloved animal icons.
That makes Ayaan Ah Meng’s great grandson.
So this is not just the birth of a baby orangutan. It is the continuation of a family line deeply connected to Singapore Zoo’s history.
Why This Birth Matters
Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered. Their wild populations continue to decline because of habitat loss, illegal pet trade and human wildlife conflict.
That makes Ayaan’s survival much bigger than a cute baby animal story.
It is a rare win for conservation, veterinary science and Singapore Zoo’s long term work with endangered species.
More than that, visitors are meeting a tiny survivor who made wildlife history.
