Tokyo – who in July became the first orangutan cub born in the Ramat Gan Safari in over 11 years – received a warm message from the Japanese Ambassador to Israel Mizushima Koichi on Thursday, in Hebrew.
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Tokyo was born in early July to 12-year-old orangutan Tana, who for the first few days, did not so much as let strangers catch a glimpse of her cub, who hid in her mother's fur.
The name was given last month in honor of the Olympic Games, during which Tokyo was born.
"Shalom, naming the orangutan Tokyo is a touching gesture to the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, which just recently came to a successful conclusion in Japan," Koichi said in Hebrew in a video recording.
"I wish the cub and her mother Tana health, happiness and love. Every birth of this nature is exciting and helps raise awareness for the orangutan, which is in danger of extinction in the wild. I hope that Tokyo, similar to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, becomes a symbol of peace, success, joy and hope," Koichi added.
The ambassador made the remarks within the context of International Orangutan Day, which was marked on Thursday. The purpose of the day is to call public attention to this critically endangered species.
"We hope that sweet Tokyo will help us raise awareness for these lovely apes, and maybe help a little in stopping their extinction," an official at the Ramat Gan Safari said.
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