Como Zoo names its baby Sumatran orangutan Kemala

Baby Orangutan
Como Zoo's new orangutan mom, Markisa, holds her baby, born by cesarean section on Jan. 7, 2015.
Courtesy Como Zoo

Como Zoo in St. Paul has named its baby Sumatran orangutan.

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 nonprofit partner of the zoo, to offset the cost of veterinary and delivery costs for baby Kemala and her mother Markisa.

Kemala was born via cesarean section Jan. 7. Sumatran orangutans are listed as critically endangered.

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