Motherhood

‘Motherhood’ ~ The Bond That Sustains

Motherhood is a tender portrait of love, protection and the unbreakable bond between a mother Bornean Orangutan (Pongo Pygmaeus) and her precious baby. In this intimate moment, the infant clings to its mother’s back, tiny arms wrapped securely around her neck ~ a gesture of trust, comfort and instinctual connection.

Orangutan mothers are known for having the strongest maternal bonds of any non-human mammal, caring for their young for up to eight years. This photograph captures the essence of that bond ~ a silent embrace that speaks of safety, learning and unconditional love.

Motherhood is a visual reminder of the emotional depth and vulnerability of these endangered primates, and the vital role mothers play in passing on the wisdom of the forest.

©LiamLynchPhotography ~ Image captured under permit at the Central Kalimantan Orangutan Reintroduction Program in Nyaru Menteng, Borneo in 2008. This image was taken with respect and care, supporting vital conservation efforts to protect and rehabilitate one of the world’s most endangered great apes.

FUN FACT: A mother orangutan carries her baby for the first five years and may continue nursing for up to six or seven years. During the first eight years of life, the young orangutan rarely leaves its mother’s side ~ learning everything from climbing to foraging by her example. Until the next infant is born, they even share a nest each night, creating an extraordinary connection built on constant care, trust and protection.

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