ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
A 16-year-old Sumatran orangutan named Blaze gave birth to a baby boy Thursday. The newborn was delivered via caesarean section with a team of experts from Zoo Atlanta and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
Blaze's caesarean section is one of only three performed on Sumatran orangutans in recent years. She is a small-bodied female, who previously gave birth to an infant orangutan who did not survive. This may have been because of Blaze's small size.
"It was an exciting honor to be included in this team of specialists to help Blaze give birth successfully," said Dr. Sandy Jun of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
Blaze's baby is the first high-profile zoo birth of the new year.
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