Auckland Zoo orangutans

Jelle...
Sam has accurately given you all the info on our individuals but it's alot more complicated when it comes to breeding programs etc.
And yes, with Madju being a male we do have to think long term about what we will do when he matures.
We've always been planning long term and having to look outside the region to try and place our Orangs. Also it's important for us to make use of our valuable animals as breeders rather than "just for show". That is why we are in contact with zoos in America and further afield to try and find options for some of our animals.
It turns out that some of our females are really valuable to the programs over there so ideally we'd like to be able to make use of them but it's a long complicated process!
 
Hi Laloba

I'm an avid/fanatic watcher of Auckland's 'The Zoo' programme and loved reading about your Orangutans in 'Tiger by the Tail'! I couldn't believe how different the lifestyle was for Orangutans at the zoo compared to in the 1920's!

Thanks for the info about Madju and Isim. I was wondering if Isim is being considered a possibility for Madju's father or will it be betwen Horst and Charlie?
 
HIya, that's great but I'm sure that detailed info that you had on the orangs wasn't all readily available on the Zoo show or the book was it? THat kind of info is only really in the zoo records.
No Isim isn't being considered as a possible sire for madju either :)
 
No, I received an email a couple of years ago from one of Auckland's keepers who told me about Datuk and the information some of their ages came from a species list I was given a few years ago!

I have a great postcard of Indra at home which says on the back she was born in 1980. Indra is so cool. When she was in the playroom in the big enclosure (about 3 years ago) I put my hand up to the glass and she did the same back! So cool!
 
Thanks Sam, that's really cool that you are so involved in the Orangs and take such an interest. I'm very impressed :) Next time I have questions about their history mabye I'll just jump on here and ask you instead of trawling through the records ;)
Yes Indra is a real character alright! She is very popular with zoo visitors and more often than not will come down to the main viewing window in her exhibit and interact with people - she likes when people open their handbags etc. and show her the contents. :)
Is amazing how different her daughter Intan turned out - she's much more private and not really into interacting with visitors, in fact she pretty much always moves around covered by 2 or 3 sheets to ensure her privacy!
 
Wow, it is amazing how different Indra and Intan are! Just like Auckland's lions Kura and Amira.

Does the zoo still make those popcorn and honey cones for the Orangutans. I saw an enrichment demonastration at the zoo with those once and the Orangs loved them! The keeper had to go and get a third one though because Charlie took Gangsa's and ended up with two!
 
Haha that sounds typical. Yes those honey cones are part of the extensive enrichment program we have for the orangs. The enrichment is on a four week roster with at least 2 different items a day so it works out they get a different combination of items every day for a month! It's quite complex and there are dozens and dozens of different things they get to keep them thinking and active. Funny you should say that Gangsa missed out because she's usually the one who manages to hog everything!
 
Wow! The enrichment programme sounds fantastic. I never knew how complex it was! I was wondering, do you have a favourite Orangutan/primate you work with?
 
Well I have to be honest and say I love ALL the primates very much, each species is so unique and each individual within that species has their own special qualities! So I love them all. I do have a particular passion about the Orangutans though, they fascinate them and I think they are such amazing animals.
And although I have to say once again that I like them all for their different orang-alities, I do have a soft spot for Isim the subadult male - he's a real softie sweetheart who wouldn't hurt a fly. Also Madju is a fave because at this age he is so outgoing and playful!
 
I love the Orangutan's too! They have been my favourite animals since i was about nine:) I think Isim's my favourite as I've seen a lot of him on the Zoo programme and for a long time he was the baby of your orang family at the zoo:)

I was wondering, Intan must have been about four or five when Isim was born. Did she have to become almost totally independant then or was Indra able to care for both of them. I wonder how Madju would react if Melur had another. Also I noticed Melur was a lot older at 17 when she had Madju than Indra with Intan at 9, what age can female orangs breed to?
 
Hiya.
Gangsa won't be falling pregnant anytime soon (touch wood!) All our females are on birth control of some kind or another as we are at maximum capacity for Orangs and don't want to breed anymore for the time being.

As for Indra, Intan and Isim... I wasn't at the zoo back then but it is a very good questioN! I will talk to my colleagues and look through the zoo records to find out for you.
 
jelle said:
Can you elaborate how it works in the ARAZPA programme for orangs? The pure bred Bornean (sub-)species being confined to NZ, the Taronga hybrids on a no breeding rec and all other zoos in Australia involved in pure-bred Sumatrans.
Click to expand...

The current situation of three different groups of orangs (pure Sumatran, Bornean and hybrids) in Australasia stems back to the 80s when DNA testing conclusively showed differences between the two populations, and elevated them to subspecies. In the late 90s the two became seperate species. But as a consequence of the lack of previous knowledge many zoos ended up with hybrid individuals (I'm sure not only a problem in Australasia), which for breeding programs became worthless. And worse, because they live so long, the hybrid orangs take up valuable holding space for a long time. Perth was the most successful zoo breeding orangs in the region and concentrated on Sumatrans. Auckland had mostly Borneans (obtaining some from Taronga). Melbourne and Adelaide decided to move towards Sumatrans, and Taronga concentrated on holding just hybrids, with the aim towards obtaining Sumatrans in the future. The recommendation from the orang ASMP is for the region to concentrate on Sumatrans, but it has been widely acknowledged that Taronga and Auckland were not likely to make big changes quickly. As far as I know this has been the status quo for the last decade.
 
Hiya!
Hmmm trying to think of something interesting but actually status quo remains the same! Which is a good thing. No news is good news huh!
No births, deaths, illnesses or injuries!
A while back last year we did a shuffle round with our Orangutan groups due to a bit of aggression between some of the females, but all as settled now and the new group dynamics are working out really well!
Other than that, all is calm and settled on the primate section!
 
Well the group in the old chimp exhibit remain the same: Horst INdra and Intan.
At the main exhibit there were two groups: Charlie, Melur, Gangsa and baby Madju, then Isim and Wanita.
We switched around so it's now Charlie, Melur, Wanita and baby Madju, and Isim and Gangsa!
 
Was the old chimp exhibit built for the Giant Pandas originally when they came in the late 80's..?
 
Hmm, sorry I don't know. I don't THINK so, I think it has been around since before then and used to house wolves way back when? But not 100% sure...
 
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