Adelaide Zoo's Primate Team is happy to announce that Karta the Sumatran Orangutan is expecting a baby towards the end of the year! While it's still early days and not traditional to announce the pregnancy this early, there have been lots of whispers and questions about a possible pregnancy due to Karta's shape and size.

Karta's expecting a Christmas baby! Photo: Dave Mattner

Zookeepers have been trying to get to the source of Karta's expanding belly for around six months now. Initially we thought that she must be pregnant, but time and time again every test under the sun came back negative. Then Karta was trained to allow myself or Nicole, another orangutan keeper, to use a Doppler machine to listen for a heartbeat. Nothing was heard; much to our disappointment. We knew the machine worked as we were able to hear Karta's heartbeat, and I even managed to convince Deb, one of Adelaide Zoo's keepers who is expecting her own baby soon, to let me use the Doppler machine on her to hone my skills. To my great relief I managed to find her baby's heart beat easily.

After that we brought in the Zoo's ultrasound machine, and even though Karta was nervous at first, within a few days I was able to ultrasound her without the need for an anesthetic.

Very recently, Karta has been allowing the vets to come with us when we ultrasound her. While it is still too early for a baby to be showing up, and while we are aware that we can't ultrasound her stomach totally, the vets have not found anything more sinister that may have been the reason for her large stomach. We'll continue with the ultrasound training so that vets can keep a good lookout, but while Karta is in good health and spirits we will not intervene to do any more explorative testing.

Soon to be daddy Kluet. Photo: Dave Mattner

Hopefully Karta will continue to remain healthy throughout the pregnancy and we will be prepared and ready for a Christmas baby. I have lots of information on the great lengths the orangutan team have been going to for the last 12 months, and will continue to go through, to ensure a successful outcome.

But that will have to wait for next week!

Many more updates to come,

Jodie Ellen
Specialist Primate Keeper, Orangutans, Adelaide Zoo