A children’s book that tells the true story of an orphaned zoo orangutan in Colorado that was accepted by a foster mother in Milwaukee is enjoying brisk sales this holiday season, with proceeds benefitting the Orangutan Conservancy.

Little Mahal and the Big Search for a Real Mother, which was written by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel staff writers Jan Uebelherr and Mark Katches, has already sold over 4,300 copies and continues to be a hit. The newspaper recently gave the Orangutan Conservancy a check for $1,574 to support its programs that protect wild orangutans and their habitat.

The book can be purchased online for $3.95 through the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website or through the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops.

Little Mahal chronicles the birth of an infant orangutan at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 2007, which went awry when he was rejected by his mother. Attempts to reintroduce the pair failed, and a surrogate at the zoo died shortly after accepting Mahal. That prompted a nationwide search for yet another surrogate mother at another zoo, which ultimately led Mahal to M.J., a 27-year old female at the Milwaukee County Zoo.

The pair has bonded, and Mahal’s story has made nationwide headlines.

“We often speak of zoo animals serving as de facto ambassadors for their wild counterparts, but very seldom do you see that occur,” said Doug Cress, vice-president of the Orangutan Conservancy. “This is one case where you can draw a direct line between the inspirational story of Mahal straight through to the struggles the wild orangutans face to survive.

“When that many people are inspired to help a single infant orangutan in an American zoo, it gives us confidence that even more will get involved to guarantee a future for wild orangutans.”