The zoo enlisted help from four neonatal intensive care unit nurses from Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Medical Center to care for Batari, along with the zoo’s primate staff. Cox said zoo veterinarian James Kusmierczyk also stayed on the grounds nonstop beginning Tuesday when Batari’s illness first began to worsen.

Mei and KJ were both present when their baby died and were allowed to hold her after she passed. Cox said Mei and KJ likely won’t be on exhibit for a while to allow the orangutans to grieve Batari’s death.

“The whole staff is really grieving at this particular time,” an emotional Cox said. “Mei and KJ, they’re sad and they’re pretty clingy to each other right now. We’re giving them time to get used to it.”

Batari’s birth was highly celebrated at the zoo, as staff had spent nearly two years with Mei prepping her for the duties of motherhood once the zoo received clearance from the International Species Survival Plan organization to allow Mei and KJ to breed.

“For a little thing, to only be 6 1/2 months old, she was such a great ambassador for her species, not only locally but globally,” said Johnny Binder, general curator for the zoo. “I think because of so many thousands of people coming out to see Batari at our zoo, she was able to raise awareness for people for all orangutans and their plight. She touched a lot of hearts and a lot of people.”