🦧 A Heartwarming Story of Survival: Inda and Nangka at the Sacramento Zoo
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Bringing Compassionate Conservation to Life
At 175 Productions, our mission as a commercial video production company is to tell real stories that move people.
One of the most powerful examples in our video production portfolio comes from the Sacramento Zoo, where a remarkable orangutan named Inda gave birth to a baby boy, Nangka, as part of the 2023 Species Survival Program for orangutans.
Our corporate videography services captured this journey of motherhood, resilience, and hope—revealing how collaboration between humans and animals can inspire conservation around the world.
Inda’s Journey into Motherhood
Inda, known for her inquisitive personality and blend of orangutan and human-learned behaviors, became a first-time mother in 2023 after breeding with Makan. Her son, Nangka, instantly captured the hearts of zookeepers and visitors alike.
Zookeepers described how Inda cradled her baby beautifully, showing natural affection and care.
But motherhood in captivity brings challenges—especially when the mother hasn’t learned certain skills from observing other orangutans.
Whenever Inda faced tasks she wasn’t trained for, she became visibly stressed, unsure how to respond.
Recognizing this, the Sacramento Zoo’s animal care team modelled maternal behaviors for Inda using real human mothers—a creative and compassionate solution that reflected their deep commitment to animal welfare.
Fostering Hope: When Love Needs a Helping Hand
Despite everyone’s efforts, the team eventually decided that for Nangka to thrive, he would need to be raised by another orangutan. Orangutans learn through observation, and the most important survival lessons—such as climbing, foraging, and nest building—can only be taught by another orangutan mother.
Thanks to coordination across multiple zoos and conservation partners, the baby was safely transported via private jet to Zoo Atlanta, where an extraordinary foster mother awaited him.
Madu’s Role as a Foster Mother
At Zoo Atlanta, Nangka was welcomed by Madu, a Sumatran orangutan renowned for her exceptional maternal instincts. Although Madu has never had biological offspring of her own, she has successfully raised five adopted infants, including Nangka—her most recent foster child.
Madu’s track record as a surrogate mother is extraordinary. She has taken in infants whose biological mothers were unable or unwilling to care for them, offering love, warmth, and stability during their most vulnerable stage of life.
Her work as a surrogate mother is considered vital to the survival of the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan species, ensuring that orphaned or hand-raised infants grow into socially and physically healthy adults.
Collaboration in Action
Matt McKim from the Sacramento Zoo emphasized how projects like this showcase the power of collaboration in wildlife conservation.
The zoo’s partnership with other institutions and donors—combined with the dedication of its animal care staff—reflects a shared mission to protect orangutans both in captivity and in the wild.
These ongoing efforts include upgrading habitats and creating more enriching environments for orangutans, while offering visitors a deeper, more meaningful connection with these intelligent primates.
Storytelling that Inspires Change
175 Productions was honored to film this story and help share it with the public.
As a brand video production and commercial video production company, our goal is to elevate stories that inspire empathy and awareness.
From testimonial videos to corporate video production services, we bring the same care and creativity to every project—translating authentic moments into cinematic narratives that connect people to purpose.
If you’re searching for a video production company or video production services near you, 175 Productions offers the storytelling expertise your brand needs to make a lasting impact.