CLEVELAND, Ohio - Kitra, a 14-year-old female orangutan at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo showed a lot of interest last October when another female had a baby.

Next month, she may get a chance at a baby of her own, but she will have to go 2,000 miles - or 2,500 if she drives.

The Portland Zoo in Oregon is holding a berth for her. She cannot breed here because the only male in the zoo's RainForest exhibit is Tiram her father, said Tad Schoffner, the zoo's curator of animals.

The Metroparks Zoo is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which takes meticulous care to ensure genetic diversity.

One of the first steps on that journey occurred Monday morning when Kitra got a thorough physical from two of the zoo's veterinarians, a host of vet technicians, and two doctors from Indonesia.

Dr. Albert Lewandowski, the zoo's chief veterinarian, said Monday that the quantity and diversity of tests then would have taken weeks if not months for a human. Each would have been done by a different specialist in a different office during a separate appointment, he said, "but we like to do it all at once."

Among the specialists was Joan Cramer, a retired cardiographologist who used to work at Fairview General, who volunteers in that field when the zoo needs her, and volunteers as a docent, as well.

Some test results were not available at day's end Monday, but everything that could be known indicated that Kitra is ready, Lewandowski said.

"She definitely showed the most interest of any of the orangutans after Kera Wak gave birth to Merah on Oct. 5."

According to zoo staff members, mother and baby went back on exhibit on Nov. 6. Kitra followed them around until the mother stopped. Kitra went to them, bent over to plant a kiss on the baby's head, then wandered off.

When Kitra arrives in Oregon, it will be up to the zoo there to remove a contraceptive device that was implanted in 2012. She also is likely to be in quarantine for at least 30 days for her protection and that of the other animals.

Joe Yachanin, a Metroparks spokesman, said some zoos isolate new primates for 30 to 90 days, and the zoo here does it for 60.

Schoffner said Kitra will not have to worry about finding her own way to the Pacific Northwest. At least one keeper from here and another from Portland will join her on a FedEx cargo plane for the journey, a common method of moving animals that will fit.

Not a problem for Kitra. She weighed around 95 pounds Monday morning.