Memphis Zoo Celebrates Birth of Baby Orangutan

Specialized team of caretakers, vets, and doctors help deliver Ruhanna via C-section

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Memphis Zoo is celebrating the birth of a new baby Sumatran orangutan named Ruhanna, or "Ru" for short. The birth was the result of months of careful planning and coordination between the zoo's staff and medical professionals from Methodist Hospital. Jahe, the mother orangutan, had previously experienced a difficult delivery with her firstborn, so the team prepared for a C-section to safely deliver the new baby. After the surgery, the staff worked to reunite Jahe and Ru, with the mother quickly bonding with her new offspring.

Why it matters

Orangutans are classified as critically endangered, so the successful birth of Ru is an important contribution to conservation efforts and the managed population of these great apes. The Memphis Zoo's specialized team and collaborative approach highlight the dedication and expertise required to responsibly care for endangered species like orangutans.

The details

The Memphis Zoo's staff, including caretakers, veterinarians, and even doctors from Methodist Hospital, worked for months to plan and execute Jahe's C-section delivery. This included training Jahe to be comfortable with ultrasounds and injections, as well as "separation training" to help her firstborn, Rowan, adjust to being apart from his mother during the birth. The C-section was a success, and the staff then worked to reunite Jahe and Ru, with the mother quickly bonding with her new baby.

  • Jahe became pregnant in the spring of 2025.
  • Ru was born via C-section on December 16, 2025.
  • Jahe and Ru were reunited 7 days after the birth.

The players

Jahe

A Sumatran orangutan at the Memphis Zoo and the mother of Ru.

Ruhanna ("Ru")

The newborn baby Sumatran orangutan at the Memphis Zoo.

Dr. Felicia Knightly

The Memphis Zoo's senior veterinarian who helped deliver Ru.

Sandi Shoemaker

The Memphis Zoo's Central Zone Curator who helped plan Ru's delivery.

Dr. Joe DeWane

The OBGYN from Methodist Hospital who helped plan the C-section delivery.

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What they’re saying

“There's no way this would have been successful without the caliber of animal she is.”

— Dr. Felicia Knightly, Senior Veterinarian, Memphis Zoo (WMC Action News 5)

“Her birth for the last one was so hard, and we did not want to put her through that again.”

— Sandi Shoemaker, Central Zone Curator, Memphis Zoo (WMC Action News 5)

“It is a major surgery, but starting the next day after Ru was born, we brought her down to our orangutan night house and sat in front of Jahe all day long so that she could see her, smell her, hear her, you know, all the things, even if she couldn't hold her right away.”

— Peyton Watt, Primates Team Lead, Memphis Zoo (WMC Action News 5)

What’s next

The Memphis Zoo plans to gradually introduce Jahe and Ru to the public in the coming weeks, allowing the mother and baby to bond further before their debut.

The takeaway

The successful birth of Ru the baby orangutan at the Memphis Zoo highlights the dedication and expertise required to responsibly care for endangered species. The collaborative efforts of the zoo's staff and medical professionals from the community demonstrate the important role zoos play in conservation and research efforts aimed at protecting great apes like orangutans in the wild.