An Enriching Weekend for Orangutans
Posted at 2:10 pm April 19, 2006 by Yvette Kemp
Last Saturday and Sunday were pretty fun days at the San Diego Zoo for many animals and guests. It was the first time keepers highlighted enrichment activities that they provide for the animals in their care. Enrichment is offered everyday for all the animals at the Zoo and Wild Animal Park; it is something that keepers make available to the animals to stimulate their minds, bodies, or both. It provides new things for them to do that day. Enrichment can be as simple as a pile of mulch to fling and dig through, or hiding the day’s diet throughout the exhibit, or something more elaborate such as supplying paints for the animals to show off their artistic talents. Enrichment comes in many sizes and forms, and sometimes guests are not aware of what is going on. So this past weekend, keepers were able to meet with Zoo guests and provide them with information regarding the animals and enrichment.
The orangutans were provided with papier-maché balls and painted paper bags (supplied by the kids in the Education Department’s Spring Camp program) stuffed with hay and treats, peanut butter/Cheerio/honey balls (supplied by keeper Victoria Zahn) hidden throughout the exhibit, palm fronds (supplied by the Horticulture Department staff), piles of hay, sugar-free gelatin eggs hidden throughout the Absolutely Apes exhibit, and a popcorn scatter. Oh, and I can’t forget the giant bubble machine our Team Area Lead Kim Livingstone lugged all over the back wall to find the perfect spot! So, as you can see, not only does it take a village to raise a child, but a great support system to provide extra enrichment for an orangutan.
Needless to say, when the orangutans came out they were very excited. The hunt for treats was on! The peanut butter balls were a big hit. Little Cinta was even seen scrambling across the top ropes going to the other side of the exhibit to look for more hidden in the logs. His mom, Indah, could not keep up with him. Satu (pictured) loved the bubble machine the most. He would stand in front of it and just let the bubbles pop against him, like some great super hero blocking meteors from destroying the Earth. Karen and Josie made great use of the palm fronds and hay. They made some big beds out of them that day! Big Clyde delicately plucked gelatin eggs off branches and ledges, while Janey vacuumed up as many Cheerio balls as she could find. And after the treats were gone, Cinta wore half of the papier-maché ball on his head, Satu ran like a crazy man with the palm fronds, and everyone threw hay around the exhibit.
Yes, the exhibit was a huge mess the next day (many thanks to fellow keeper Fernando Covarrubias for helping me clean), but the orangutans had a great time and were able to have their own Spring Break celebration. When the animals are happy and healthy, the keepers are happy. For every keeper, it is worth the extra work setting up and removing enrichment and explaining to guests what enrichment is.
Next time you are at the Zoo and see different items in an exhibit, like piles of dirt, hay, or mulch, or something you think might be enrichment, it probably is. Feel free to tell the visitor standing next to you what you know about enrichment and perhaps they, too, will pass it on.
Yvette Kemp is a senior mammal keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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April 19th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Thanks for the blog, Yvette! I was at the Zoo last Sat. and was able to see Jabba the hippo enjoy an enrichment activity: having water sprayed in his mouth from a hose. It looked like he was having his teeth cleaned and he seemed to love it! Sorry I wasn’t able to catch the orangutans. Thanks again for providing some cheer after the loss of Koza!
April 20th, 2006 at 3:29 am
Thanks for the enjoyable blog, Yvette. It was nice to smile and laugh this morning. Yesterday and last night was very difficult and heart breaking because of losing Koza. I want to read the entries about Koza that appeared after I left work yesterday, but I just can’t bring myself to do it yet.
Did anyone get a picture of Cinta wearing the papier-maché hat? That would be adorable to see if one could be put on the website.
Thanks again, Yvette.
April 20th, 2006 at 6:15 am
i am unlikely to ever get to the SD zoo, but i love reading this stuff. i am compelled to check this zoo and the national zoo at least once a day. i really appreciate the zoo staff and their care of the animals. thanks!
April 20th, 2006 at 7:42 am
Thanks for the informative and cheerful blog. Indeed, it was uplifting to see that life continues even after suffering a shocking loss, as in the case with Koza. The various enrichments sound like lots of fun and creatively prepared, too. I enjoyed learning that the spring break campers even contributed. That’s education that will be remembered!
April 20th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
I was afraid to check to see if there were new blogs today. Just seeing Koza’s picture there with the words ” In memory” next to it sends the tears streaming. It was a pleasant surprise to see the new cheerful blog. It made me smile. Thank you, Yvette.
April 21st, 2006 at 7:27 am
It is a kind and life-affirming thing to do to add this entry to the keepers’ journals just after the shocking loss of Koza. It helps us to remember that life continues all around us, and that there is joy being enacted, even at SDZ where so many people are coping with difficulty. The orangs are very special beings, too – so endangered, and so special in their characteristics as a species. I must admit that I have had mixed feelings about zoos for many years; but it is always most informative to read here to find out as much as possible about the philosophy and practicalities of keeping wild animals in captivity.
April 21st, 2006 at 8:54 am
I’d also like to see Cinta wearing his hat, it would make a good profile pic. Satu looks so funny, like he’s just come back from the mall after a hard day of shopping. I wish I could’ve been there to see the fun!
April 23rd, 2006 at 8:11 pm
So glad to see the Orangs are still getting lots of enrichment, Yvette!! You’ll have to see if Kim can get some of the hangable ice blocks from Forage again this summer– they were always a hit in the past. We also did some ” scent enrichment” a few years ago, where I got lots of cheap perfume (rejected Christmas presents! haha) and sprayed different fragrances on the climbing structure poles… Clyde use to like to rub it all over his dreads! I also used to have hort. turn on 1/2 of the exhibit’s sprinklers during a hot summer afternoon for a few minutes, just like a tropical rainforest would have– just be sure Indah has a banana leaf to use as an umbrella first… she doesn’t like to get her hair wet!
Please give Janey a hug from me.
Keep up the great blogs.
April 24th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
The info about enrichment on this site (and from the National Zoo in Washington, too) have caused us to re-evaluate what we used to call ” playing with our housecats.” We now consider it ” enrichment activity,” and it’s funny how that shift in label has inspired us to become more creative, thus enriching life around here for both species. Thanks!