Denver Zoo turns to Maury Povich to reveal father of baby orangutan Siska
The Denver Zoo was thrown into uncertainty as staff tried to determine the father of the baby orangutan, Siska. Was it the 30-year-old Berani or the 16-year-old Jaya? After months of uncertainty, Maury Povich was called in to deliver the paternity results in a manner only he could.
The announcement was made after the zoo staff was unsure about Siska’s paternity for roughly four months. Denver Zoo spokesman Jake Kubie, who jokingly suggested the idea, said he was delighted that Povich agreed to do it. Siska is the result of a joint breeding effort to increase the population of Sumatran orangutans and is part of a critically endangered species with only about 9,200 left in the wild.
Eventually, it was determined through a paternity test that Berani was the father, which led to cheers from the staff and delight from Berani himself. Jaya, who previously showed mating and courtship behavior towards Siska’s mother, Eirina, will have to wait for another opportunity as it was confirmed that he is not the father.
The decision to involve Povich was unconventional but proved a success, inspiring joy and excitement for the staff and members of the Denver Zoo. With Povich’s assistance, the paternity results were revealed in a memorable and entertaining fashion, uplifted by the positive atmosphere and the unforgettable delivery from Povich himself.