Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is thrilled to announce that Ruby, a 26-year-old female Bornean orangutan, is expecting. The infant, sired by 23-year-old male Denda, is anticipated to arrive in February 2026.
Ruby has been a valued member of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium since 2007 and this is her first pregnancy. Denda joined the Zoo in 2024 with the opening of the reimagined Hubbard Orangutan Forest, an immersive habitat that brings guests closer to orangutans and highlights the importance of protecting them in their natural environment.
This will be the first orangutan pregnancy at Omaha’s Zoo and Aquarium in more than a decade. The pregnancy was first detected through urine hormones and confirmed through voluntary transabdominal ultrasound. As the first Bornean orangutan birth expected at the Zoo since 2014 and a pairing recommended by the Orangutan Species Survival Plan (SSP), this pregnancy marks an exciting milestone not only for the Zoo but also for the global effort to ensure a sustainable future for this critically endangered species.
“This pregnancy is a meaningful step forward for orangutan conservation,” said Ryan Sears, curator of large mammals at the Zoo. “Every orangutan birth is a celebration, not just for our Zoo, but for the species as a whole. Each infant helps strengthen the population in human care and deepens our community’s connection to the urgent need to protect orangutans and their habitats.”
Bornean orangutans are critically endangered due to habitat loss, deforestation, palm oil production, and illegal wildlife trade. Ruby’s pregnancy is a hopeful reminder of the Zoo’s mission to save species from extinction and the power of collaboration among accredited zoos working toward a shared conservation goal.
The Zoo’s expert animal care and animal health teams are working diligently to prepare Ruby for pregnancy, birth, and infant rearing. From developing individualized birth plans to providing advanced prenatal monitoring, the teams are ensuring Ruby and her baby receive the best care, a process that mirrors the same thoughtful planning found in human medicine. Just as in humans, there are risks associated with pregnancy and birth, making diligent planning and monitoring all the more important.
Guests can look forward to updates on Ruby’s pregnancy, visiting her in Hubbard Orangutan Forest and, when the time comes, the exciting arrival of the newest member of the orangutan family.