A “very special” newborn orangutan has been displayed by his happy mother, whose birth could usher in a new generation of the critically endangered species.

First Bornean orangutan newborn at Blackpool Zoo in more than 20 years, the unnamed five-week-old has inspired conservation efforts.

His mother, Jingga, 13, who is 13 years old, held him toward the viewing windows of the Lancashire tourist destination on Saturday while bowing her head in front of the crowd.

The baby, who will remain with his mother until he is around seven years old so that he may gain the skills needed to be independent, smiled through the glass as onlookers squealed with delight and took pictures with their cell phones.

He was born as a result of the ex-situ program (EEP) run by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and keepers called him “very special” when they announced his birth in June.

“The arrival of this very special baby is wonderful news, not just for us here at Blackpool zoo, but for the species as well,” the zoo’s director, Darren Webster, stated.

“The International Union for Conservation of Nature classified the Bornean orangutan as critically endangered in July 2016,” he continued. As a result, there is currently a very significant risk of this species going extinct in the wild.

We are hopeful that this is the beginning of a new generation of stunning Bornean orangutans here at Blackpool Zoo. This makes breeding programs like the EEP vitally crucial.

Jingga came from Barcelona, where she was born, to the zoo in 2017.

After consultation with EEP experts and specialized keepers, the father of the child, Kawan, who is also 13 years old, was chosen to start a breeding group and arrived from a Dutch zoo in 2022.

Recently, the Blackpool Zoo has been at the center of several significant conservation programs.

It attempted to create a “multigenerational herd” in 2019 by introducing the male Asian elephant Emmett to its parade of ladies.