Singapore Zoo Welcomes 2-Month-Old Orangutan Ayaan Born via Caesarean Section

Visitors to Singapore Zoo can now see Ayaan, a two-month-old Sumatran orangutan. Ayaan was born via caesarean section on March 18 after his mother, Chomel, had a high-risk pregnancy.

This is believed to be the first time an orangutan and its mother have survived a caesarean section. Both Ayaan and Chomel are doing well.

Ayaan was born after years of trying to help his father, Charlie, have a baby to preserve his genetic line.

The zoo paired Charlie and Chomel as part of a program to manage the Sumatran orangutan population.

The zoo tried to get Charlie and Chomel to have a baby many times since 2018, but it didn't work. They then used artificial insemination, which finally worked in July 2025.

Chomel's pregnancy was going well until January when she had vaginal bleeding twice and was diagnosed with a condition called placenta praevia.

The zoo's veterinary team decided a planned caesarean section would give both Chomel and Ayaan the best chance of survival.

The team prepared for the surgery for two months and even got blood ready in case Chomel needed it during the operation.

A veterinary surgical specialist and human obstetric and neonatal specialists helped with the surgery due to its complexity.

Ayaan was born after a 20-minute delivery and needed help to breathe and warm up. The team then put him in an incubator while Chomel recovered.

Caesarean sections in orangutans are very rare, with only about a dozen cases in the US over the past 20 years.

After the surgery, Chomel started nursing Ayaan within a day and is also nursing another baby orangutan, Lio.

Ayaan has been adopted by SMRT, which will help with his care and the zoo's conservation efforts.

The orangutans will be in the exhibit on certain days, with Chomel, Ayaan, Lio, Ah Meng, and Niu Li there from Thursday to Sunday and public holidays.

Mandai Wildlife Group also says that Chomel may go to quiet areas to nurse Ayaan.

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