Como Zoo names baby orangutan Kemala
Published 10:08 am Tuesday, February 17, 2015
ST. PAUL — Como Zoo in St. Paul has named its baby Sumatran orangutan.
Markisa, a 28-year-old Sumatran orangutan, gave birth to her daughter Kemala on Jan. 7. The baby’s name was announced this week. — Photo provided by Como Zoo
After a public vote, zoo officials dubbed her Kemala, which means “magic stone” in the Bahasa Indonesia language.
Como Zoo had nominated three names: Aanjay, Cinta, and Kemala. The public was invited to vote for the name they liked best using their pennies. The name with the most pennies won. The zoo says Kemala was the clear choice.
The contest in total raised nearly $2,000.
Local businessman Johannes Marliem also presented a check for $10,000 to Como Friends, the non-profit partner of the zoo, to offset the cost of veterinary and delivery costs for baby Kemala and her mother Markisa.
Kemala was born via C-section Jan. 7. Sumatran orangutans are listed as critically endangered.
