Moffitt Physician Assists in Delivering Baby Orangutan

Jeannie Chern, MD, is no stranger to helping patients in need. As a gynecologic oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, she has operated on many different types of patients.

But in April, she found herself preparing for surgery on a patient she had never seen before: an orangutan.

During a routine ultrasound, veterinarians at Busch Gardens noticed a problem with pregnant Bornean orangutan Luna. Her baby was in a breech position, meaning the feet are positioned to come out first. As in humans, this can make delivery very dangerous, so a team of obstetricians/gynecologists affiliated with University of South Florida, including Chern, were brought in to assist in performing a cesarean section.  

While Chern treats patients with gynecological cancers, she is double board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and subspecialized in gynecologic oncology. Orangutan Luna wasn’t very different from other pregnant patients Chern has treated.

“When necessary, veterinarians bring in human medical teams because apes are so similar to humans,” Chern said. “We share 97% of our DNA, so the body structure and organs are essentially identical.”

Chern says the surgery went well, and the team delivered a healthy baby orangutan.

“This was very exciting,” she said. “The Bornean orangutans are an endangered species, so it’s very meaningful to have a positive impact for this endangered species and to have helped bring in this next generation. We are protecting the survival of these animals, and that’s what we are doing as doctors at Moffitt — we are here to protect life.”

After Luna had time to recover from surgery, she was reunited with her baby in an emotional video.

It warms our hearts to announce that Luna and Baby are reunited! 🦧 Stay tuned for more exciting updates on all of our social media platforms, and comment down below to celebrate this monumental moment with us! pic.twitter.com/d7jZQacDKS

— Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (@BuschGardens) April 20, 2024