Taipei: One of the newborn orangutan twins born at Taipei Zoo earlier this week died early Wednesday, while its sibling remained in critical condition in intensive care, according to the zoo.

According to Focus Taiwan, the zoo issued a press release stating that one of the twins began experiencing dramatic fluctuations in vital signs around noon Tuesday and developed severe respiratory distress. Despite emergency treatment, the baby orangutan succumbed to complications from premature birth and underdevelopment at 12:38 a.m. Wednesday.

Its sibling, named Da Pao, is currently suffering from neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) due to its underdeveloped lungs, which are not yet capable of supporting regular breathing. Veterinarians and medical staff are closely monitoring Da Pao around the clock. The zoo noted that Da Pao has shown a strong will to survive. Neonatologists from National Taiwan University Hospital are providing essential guidance on respiratory support, medication dosing, and physiological monitoring for Da Pao. The zoo expressed gratitude to the doctors for their efforts to save the other twin.

The twins were delivered by cesarean section on Monday, as their mother, Ke Yi, had been classified as having a high-risk pregnancy. The zoo had announced the birth of the orangutans in a press release on Monday. A natural delivery of twins posed significant risks to both the mother and babies, increasing the likelihood of dystocia, fetal distress, and other complications, which led the medical team to opt for a cesarean section.

The zoo highlighted that orangutans are listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. In the wild, female orangutans typically give birth only once every six to eight years, with about 99 percent of pregnancies resulting in a single offspring. The occurrence of twin births is extremely rare, even in captivity.