Australasian Orangutan Population

Zoofan15 said:
It would still be worthwhile breeding Charlie and Daya in my opinion as it’ll be at least 5-6 years (potentially longer) until we can expect to see Bahmi sire any infants. Horst was 11 years old when his first infants were born in 1989.

Considering Charlie is also the second most genetically valuable male Bornean orangutan in captivity, it’d be a shame if his sole surviving offspring going forward were both with the same female.

If Charlie can sire infants to Melur and Daya within the next year or two, it’ll ensure a more seamless transition into Bahmi becoming the next breeding male - with Melur retiring from breeding after her fourth and final infant; and Daya then having a gap of around five years until she breeds a second time. There would therefore be no need to bring in a new male during this period, which is an added benefit given the zoo essentially have one orangutan exhibit (with the other remaining for the use of the Siamang).

That’s cool you got to see Bahmi celebrate his third birthday. It’s been good to see him gaining independence and spending more time away from his mother/interacting with Daya; though on my last visit, that involved beating her with a stick!
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I agree, I would love to see Charlie sire infants with both Daya and Melur, given Charlie's genetic value, and also Daya and Melur's (since Daya has a wild-born mother and Melur is the only one of her sire's offspring who has bred successfully, although her iconic mother Yasmin's line is well represented).

And yes, I was lucky enough to get the day off work to celebrate Bahmi's special day! He wasn't hitting Daya over the head with sticks this time, but he was chasing her around the habitat for a while. The biggest commotion he caused yesterday was getting in between Charlie and Melur and demanding attention, after Charlie had been sitting by the window for about half an hour, enjoying some grooming from Melur. Getting sick of teasing Daya, Bahmi swung back to the window, climbed all over both his parents and tried to bite Charlie's flanges, and then Melur suddenly got protective of Bahmi, started growling and chased poor Charlie back towards the trees!
 
Visited Melbourne Zoo this past weekend and had a chance to see their resident Orangutans. As I understand the pair are a father daughter relationship. Both were seperated during my visit I was just intrested to know if they are ever on exhibit together and if there are any plans to grow the troop moving forward. Thanks
 
Sam.S said:
Visited Melbourne Zoo this past weekend and had a chance to see their resident Orangutans. As I understand the pair are a father daughter relationship. Both were seperated during my visit I was just intrested to know if they are ever on exhibit together and if there are any plans to grow the troop moving forward. Thanks
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They’re actually half-siblings, who share a father:

1.0 Malu (29/07/2003) Santan x Maimunah
0.1 Gabby (01/01/1990) Santan x Kiani

They do spend time together, though Malu was closer to Gabby’s now deceased mother (Kiani).

Long term the acquisition of a purebred Sumatran female is anticipated to pair with Malu (Gabby is a hybrid).
 
Sam.S said:
Visited Melbourne Zoo this past weekend and had a chance to see their resident Orangutans. As I understand the pair are a father daughter relationship. Both were seperated during my visit I was just intrested to know if they are ever on exhibit together and if there are any plans to grow the troop moving forward. Thanks
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That's interesting to hear they've been separated. I saw both together when I visited last week. It's unusual as the pair have been together for a long time now.

Was one in the indoor enclosure?

It's possible they just had access to both, and they chose to be in their own spaces.
 
Zoofan15 said:
They’re actually half-siblings, who share a father:

1.0 Malu (29/07/2003) Santan x Maimunah
0.1 Gabby (01/01/1990) Santan x Kiani

They do spend time together, though Malu was closer to Gabby’s now deceased mother (Kiani).

Long term the acquisition of a purebred Sumatran female is anticipated to pair with Malu (Gabby is a hybrid).
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Ahhh thanks for clearing that up!
 
Jambo said:
That's interesting to hear they've been separated. I saw both together when I visited last week. It's unusual as the pair have been together for a long time now.

Was one in the indoor enclosure?

It's possible they just had access to both, and they chose to be in their own spaces.
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Yes Malu was resting in the indoor holding where in past visits I often see him and must admit im unsure if i have ever seen him grace the main exhibit. But i agree it is likely they had access and were just enjoying their own company now with your insight as to them being held together for some time.
 
Sam.S said:
Ahhh thanks for clearing that up!
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No worries. The mating of Santan (Sumatran) and Kiani (hybrid) was actually unintentional as the region as a whole had decided to phase of hybrids by that stage.

Maimunah (purebred Sumatran) was imported in 1992 and then bred with Santan to produce a male (Malu) in 2003 and a female (Dewi) in 2010. Santan, Maimunah and Dewi now live at Sydney Zoo.
 
Sam.S said:
Yes Malu was resting in the indoor holding where in past visits I often see him and must admit im unsure if i have ever seen him grace the main exhibit. But i agree it is likely they had access and were just enjoying their own company now with your insight as to them being held together for some time.
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Back when Kiani was still alive, all three used to have access to both enclosures. Kiani often chose to remain indoors due to her age.

Malu's always struck me as an individual who loves to be outside and active - Gabby too.
 
Jambo said:
Back when Kiani was still alive, all three used to have access to both enclosures. Kiani often chose to remain indoors due to her age.

Malu's always struck me as an individual who loves to be outside and active - Gabby too.
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Gabby for sure, on the flip side i dont believe ive ever seen her indoors aha, perhaps ive just been unfortunate. Look forward to the day i can fiest my eyes on Malu shifting that impressive frame and lucious locks on the main stage!
 
Sam.S said:
Gabby for sure, on the flip side i dont believe ive ever seen her indoors aha, perhaps ive just been unfortunate. Look forward to the day i can fiest my eyes on Malu shifting that impressive frame and lucious locks on the main stage!
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Seeing Malu on the sway poles is a sight to behold. He’s one of the most active male orangutans I’ve ever seen, thought the amount of enrichment in the exhibit promotes this no doubt.

Malu and Kiani were up on the deck by the glass on one of my late 2023 visits. They shared a close bond.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Seeing Malu on the sway poles is a sight to behold. He’s one of the most active male orangutans I’ve ever seen, thought the amount of enrichment in the exhibit promotes this no doubt.

Malu and Kiani were up on the deck by the glass on one of my late 2023 visits. They shared a close bond.
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Malu's extremely active and curious - and sometimes this has come as a detriment to keepers. He's managed to escape on a few occasions!

A favourite past time of his is to climb to the highest tower within the exhibit, where he can sit and observe the rest of the zoo. A keeper told me he loves to watch the giraffes from up there under his blanket.

When they're up on the deck by the glass they're often grooming each other. Gabby's essentially served as an older sister to Malu since his introduction to them in 2010.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Seeing Malu on the sway poles is a sight to behold. He’s one of the most active male orangutans I’ve ever seen, thought the amount of enrichment in the exhibit promotes this no doubt.

Malu and Kiani were up on the deck by the glass on one of my late 2023 visits. They shared a close bond.
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They seem to absolutely adore the sunken beds within the deck. Plenty of action and use from both the Oranguatans and the Siamangs.
 
Sam.S said:
They seem to absolutely adore the sunken beds within the deck. Plenty of action and use from both the Oranguatans and the Siamangs.
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Although as a whole Melbourne’s orangutan exhibit looks dated and hasn’t aged particularly well since it opened in 2006, I have high praise for the innovative enrichment throughout the exhibit - the sway poles, the climbing towers, the sunken beds.

It reminds me of an improved version of Auckland Zoo’s Orangutan Park (1987) with its indoor/outdoor flow, grassed outdoor exhibit and high walls.
 
Jambo said:
Malu's extremely active and curious - and sometimes this has come as a detriment to keepers. He's managed to escape on a few occasions!

A favourite past time of his is to climb to the highest tower within the exhibit, where he can sit and observe the rest of the zoo. A keeper told me he loves to watch the giraffes from up there under his blanket.

When they're up on the deck by the glass they're often grooming each other. Gabby's essentially served as an older sister to Malu since his introduction to them in 2010.
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That woudl be amazing to see, although i have not being fortunate to see this as such even when lazing around his indoor quaters nothing seems to happen without him knowing aha. A very inquisitive soul to be sure.
 
Sam.S said:
That woudl be amazing to see, although i have not being fortunate to see this as such even when lazing around his indoor quaters nothing seems to happen without him knowing aha. A very inquisitive soul to be sure.
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Orangutans are very observant animals. Keepers describe them as real thinkers compared to the boisterous chimpanzee.

Indra at Auckland Zoo used to take a hessian sack and bite a hole in it. She’d climb up onto one of the platforms and watch the people going past with the sack draped over here, so she could see them but not vice-versa. Her daughter Intan adopted this habit too.
 
Zoofan15 said:
Although as a whole Melbourne’s orangutan exhibit looks dated and hasn’t aged particularly well since it opened in 2006, I have high praise for the innovative enrichment throughout the exhibit - the sway poles, the climbing towers, the sunken beds.

It reminds me of an improved version of Auckland Zoo’s Orangutan Park (1987) with its indoor/outdoor flow, grassed outdoor exhibit and high walls.
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Yes i would have to agree with both points, especially when compared to the only other Australiasian Orangutan facility ive visted being Aucklands fantastic facility!
 
Zoofan15 said:
Orangutans are very observant animals. Keepers describe them as real thinkers compared to the boisterous chimpanzee.

Indra at Auckland Zoo used to take a hessian sack and bite a hole in it. She’d climb up onto one of the platforms and watch the people going past with the sack draped over here, so she could see them but not vice-versa. Her daughter Intan adopted this habit too.
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Thats amazing I would love to see that
 
Sam.S said:
Yes i would have to agree with both points, especially when compared to the only other Australiasian Orangutan facility ive visted being Aucklands fantastic facility!
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Sam.S said:
Thats amazing I would love to see that
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What year did you visit Auckland Zoo?

Their current exhibit (opened 2020) is spectacular and easily the best in the region, taking inspiration from world class exhibits around the world like Singapore Zoo.

Auckland Zoo’s colony peaked at nine orangutans in 2005-2009. They managed five females and an adolescent male together in a group from 2001-2005, with two adult males rotating access to this group. In 2005, an infant was born and the group was split three ways, occupying the recently vacated chimpanzee exhibit.

Six of the nine orangutans mentioned above were exported to the US in 2009 and 2015.
 
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