Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas' Blog

Tut and Tiido photo taken in 2008

Tut’s twins were born on October 15, 2009 at Camp Leakey, our facility supported and managed by Orangutan Foundation International, but Tranquillity, the weaker twin of the two, soon died. We named Thor, the stonger twin who survived, for the day of the week that he was born, Thursday. Since both twins were male, it is possible that the twins were identical ones but, of course, we don’t know for sure.

Thor is doing fine. Tut is very protective of him so it’s been difficult to get a good photo. The photo I have put up with today’s post is one I took of Tut in 2008 when her previous infant, a little male named Tiido, was still alive. I named Tiido after the surname of my childhood best friend in Toronto and her family – not the late dictator of Yugoslavia! Tiido was killed by a wild Bornean bearded pig, but survived for hours after being rescued and returned to Tut by our courageous OFI rangers. Unfortunately, Tiido was dead the next morning when Tut emerged from her nest. The OFI rangers heard Tiido crying and whimpering all night long so assumed he would survive. They were sadly mistaken. He must have died of internal injuries. Let’s hope Thor lives up to his name, the God of Thunder, and not only survives but thrives like his older brother Tom who is now the dominant male of the forest around Camp Leakey.

Tom, Tut's adult male son, with fruit in mouth.