Daisy and Kinali:

Sharing Custody with a

Reluctant Orangutan Mother

By Devin Bailey

Planning for Motherhood

Hand reared

Gave birth to a son

in Atlanta that she

did not rear

Lived with and

watched a surrogate

raise two infants

Maternal Training

Staff Preparations

May 19,2011

Building a Parenting Plan

• Give Daisy EVERY

opportunity to care

for Kinali

• Give Kinali the

benefit of staying

with his mom.

• Provide around the

clock supportive care

for Kinali when

Daisy does not.

The Reluctant Mother: Daisy

No aggression was

ever seen by Daisy

She showed interest

when we cared for

Kinali and made

consistent progress in

training.

Daisy’s relationship

and trust in Kinali’s

care-givers was

essential.

Meet the Custodial Parents

Four primary people became the “moms”. Baby sitters were

added to his care team as he got older and Daisy had built

more confidence.

The Custody Agreement

Kinali joined Daisy

after his 6 AM

bottle and training.

Daisy would

separate when asked

so we could care for

Kinali.

When Daisy was

done for the day, we

took Kinali for the

night.

Overnight Visitation

Kinali was only pulled

when Daisy was “done”

for the night.

In the evenings, Kinali

would be taken for

walks for outside time,

work on his clinging

skills and playing.

Daisy continued to be

trained during Kinali’s

feeding times.

Parenting Class 101

Daisy began her

training by simply

touching Kinali when

asked to.

Daisy was taught to

“assist” with care

through mesh.

She eventually

graduated to bringing

Kinali up for bottles.

Orangutan 101

By being with Daisy everyday, Kinali started to pick

up her habits and mimic her behaviors.

Modifying the Custody Agreement

As Daisy progressed

as a mother, we

stepped back.

All changes were

monitored closely,

but on Daisy’s terms.

Daisy was very clear

in her wishes and her

limitations.

Daisy Gets Sole Custody

When Kinali was 7

months old, he

started staying with

Daisy every night.

Keepers stayed

overnight as changes

were made to

monitor Daisy’s

progress.

Kinali’s transition

was seamless.

The BIG Test

• Kinali’s first day on the indoor exhibit…Daisy

exceeds EVERYONES expectations!!!

Maintaining Visitation Rights On a couple of

occasions, we have

had to assist Daisy

with Kianli.

They are trained to

separate to facilitate

weighing daily or

medical procedures.

Daisy also allows us

(usually) to interact,

train, examine, and

play with Kinali.

Child Support Continues

Kinali is currently

getting only 3 bottles

daily.

He is spoon-fed a

leafeater/cereal gruel.

Kinali at times will

seek his human

moms for play or

comfort, but usually

Daisy provides these

things.

Future Case Management

Currently Panji and

Tia are not

cohabitating with

Daisy and Kinali.

The next plan is to

integrate them into

one cohesive family.

Eventually, Daisy

maybe a foster mom

or have another baby.

It’s been a long journey…

But it has had a happy ending!

Thank you…

The Orangutan SSP

Carol Sodaro

Laura Mayo

The staff and

management who

supported us.

The orangutans who

have taught us so

much while we were

trying to teach them.

Any Questions?