The Denver Zoo recently housed the birth of an orangutan but didn’t know which adult fathered the baby. Now it does, thanks to testing and the announcement by former TV host Maury Povich.
Baby Siska, a female, was born on Aug. 27 to Sumatran orangutan Eirina, who arrived at the Denver Zoo in 2016, per a zoo release announcing the birth.
What zoo staff couldn’t determine at first was her father. Was it Berani or Jaya?
After DNA testing of Siska, the zoo called in Mr. Povich to announce the results. As part of the “Maury” show he hosted on daytime TV from 1991 to 2022, he gained fame for helping determine the disputed paternity of kids.
On Tuesday, the Denver Zoo posted a video of Mr. Povich announcing the results on X.
“When it comes to the orangutan, 4-month-old Siska, Berani … you are the father!” he said.
PHOTOS: 'You are the father!' Maury Povich declares to Denver Zoo orangutan
Just days before, Mr. Povich, 84, won a Daytime Emmys Lifetime Achievement Honor. The “Maury” show, at 31 years, had the longest run for a daytime talk show with a single host in American history.
“I know that you think he’s been determining the paternity of every child in America all his life. But no, in his 67 freaking years in television, he’s been a news reporter and a news anchor and old fashion talk show host interviewing world leaders, politicians, members of Congress, authors, movie stars and even Julia Child,” Mr. Povich’s wife, journalist Connie Chung, said in her introduction before giving him the award, according to The Associated Press.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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