The Denver Zoo has welcomed a baby Sumatran orangutan and is asking the public to help choose the perfect name for its newest primate.

First-time mother Hesty gave birth to a male infant on May 24 following a seven-hour labor. The birth carries special significance for the zoo’s primate team. Hesty herself was born at DZCA in 2010 to parents Nias and Mias.

Assistant Curator Molly Kainuma, who helped care for Hesty as an infant, called the birth a full-circle moment.

“Watching her become a mother herself nearly 16 years later is incredibly special,” Kainuma said. “Seeing her naturally demonstrate such strong maternal instincts and resiliency is the very best outcome we could have hoped for.”

According to zoo officials, the delivery went smoothly, and the mother and infant are bonding well.

Officials say visitors may catch limited glimpses of the pair in the near future, though the Great Apes building may be temporarily closed to the public at times in the coming weeks.

DZCA is also inviting the public to help name the new arrival. Supporters can vote on three options, Rambutan, Oka, or Jamartin, for a $5 donation per vote, with proceeds supporting ongoing conservation efforts. 

Rambutan, pronounced “ram-BOO-tan,” is named after a tropical fruit native to Southeast Asia and a favorite of orangutans. Oka, pronounced “OH-kuh,” is a traditional Balinese name meaning “child” or “heir.” Jamartin, pronounced “ja-MAR-tahn,” honors Dr. Jamartin Sihite, a noted conservationist of Indonesia’s wild orangutans.

Updates on Hesty and her newborn will be shared on the zoo’s social media channels. Officials said the birth offers a hopeful sign for a species facing severe threats in the wild and marks a proud moment for the team that has supported Hesty from the very beginning.

“This little baby represents a huge, hopeful step in preserving the species through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan,” DZCA said in a release.