Gotta love this story from Jan Uebelherr of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Primates all over America are discovering the Apple iPad — and that includes Mahal and his surrogate mother, M.J., two of the Milwaukee County Zoo’s orangutans.
The zoo is using four donated iPads, plus another belonging to a volunteer, for enrichment activities that include free apps (finger painting, music) and videos of other animals at the zoo.
Keepers also are considering using Skype, an Internet video chat program, to connect orangutans in other zoos with each other. M.J., for instance, came from a Toledo zoo in 2007 and might check in on the old gang back in Toledo.
Other zoos, including Zoo Atlanta, use touch screens with orangutans, but the Milwaukee County Zoo is the only one in America using iPads. Orangutan Outreach, a nonprofit that works on behalf of the endangered orangutans, is working with zoos on starting up similar programs.
Milwaukee’s iPad project — described as “embryonic” by orangutan keeper Trish Khan — began with an April Fools’ Day joke by The Sun newspaper in Britain. It ran a story about a gorilla who got his hands on a man’s iPad, cranked up the “Angry Birds” game app and caused all sorts of trouble for the iPad owner.
Claire Richard, the primary gorilla keeper at the Milwaukee County Zoo, saw the report and posted an item on Facebook: “I want one of these for Maji (one of the gorillas at the zoo).”
A friend, Zoo Pride volunteer Kim Houk, replied, “How cool would that be; get one for Mahal, too!”
Self-described “friend of the zoo” Scott Engel, a freelance photographer, developer of apps and a big fan of Mahal, saw the note and had a message of his own for Richard:
“I can make this happen.”
Engel donated an iPad of his own, and more followed — including one from a customer at an Apple store who overheard him talking about his idea to bring iPads to great apes at the zoo. A volunteer saw Engel working with M.J. on the iPad and asked if he’d like a couple more, so she donated two brand new iPads.
The gorillas were wary of the new device, and remain so.
“They were all very scared,” said Richard, the primary gorilla keeper. “It’s a different species. Orangutans are curious about everything. Gorillas are afraid of everything.
“Because it’s something new and different, they’re real hesitant to even approach it. Hodari, the youngest one (16), had the most curiosity. … Hodari was able to figure out the finger painting,” Richard said.
“Maji (an older gorilla) just wanted to break it. He couldn’t figure out what the whole thing was, and he just wanted to get hold of it.”
But the inquisitive orangutans were another story.
Mahal’s first look at the iPad was a photo of himself. His reaction: He threw his arms into the air and clapped.
“They were enthralled,” Engel said. “One of the first things we did was take advantage of the built-in camera on the iPad, and turn the camera on them, because they’re used to looking into a mirror and recognizing themselves.”
Engel and the keepers looked for other ways to use the iPad and came up with videos of other animals in the Milwaukee zoo as well as other zoos.
M.J. likes to watch videos of Tommy, a male orangutan who was separated from Mahal and M.J. about a year ago after he became rough with Mahal.
“Mahal loves the penguins,” said Engel, who made a video of them at feeding time. “He just sat there watching them, with his arms folded across his chest. He jumped back when the penguins flapped a wing.”
Much of the iPad use is from outside the glass, but Khan also lets the orangutans touch the screens through a grid on the side of their enclosure. Their long nails impede them from touching the screen, so keepers must hold the iPad at a certain angle.
“We’re finding out they can’t use the whole screen,” Khan said. “We’re problem-solving, as well as the orangutans.”
The orangutans take part in these activities without food rewards — a bonus, Khan said.
“We’re always looking for activities that will engage them without the added calories,” Khan said. “So they’re purely doing it for their own interest. Not for a grape.”
Enrichment activities for primates are defined as anything that will “stimulate natural behavior,” Khan said.
So how does an iPad do that? It’s not exactly something that would be found in the rain forest, the native habit of orangutans.
“We provide enrichment to them all day long that’s man-made enrichment. I mean, that’s what we have — whatever materials you can get that they won’t destroy, things that keep them interested,” Khan said. They wouldn’t have finger paints, wading pools or TV sets — all used as enrichment — in the rain forest either, she noted.
Giving them stimulation that leads to “natural behavior” helps them behave more like great apes.
“This is their environment they’re in now,” Khan said. “Any sort of mental stimulation is eliciting natural behaviors. Great apes are problems solvers by nature. That’s why this sort of technology appeals to me, and appeals to them, because it gives them that opportunity.”
Hi! I'm Buffy. I'm not a vampire slayer but I do love sinking my teeth into social media -- from Facebook to Foursquare. I hope you join me as I explore the digital landscape and have some fun along the way.
Pingback: pre workout supplements
Pingback: top auto extended warranty companies
Pingback: Warez Downloads
Pingback: Warez Downloads
Pingback: land rover lr3 extended warranty
Pingback: i was in spanish
Pingback: Canada Disability
Pingback: Degenerative Joint Disease
Pingback: MMA News
Pingback: builder construction
Pingback: financial planning for retirement
Pingback: sex chat
Pingback: Better Sex Life
Pingback: medical marijuana where to get a licence to grow
Pingback: FIX30C2L
Pingback: Mauritius Holiday Rentals
Pingback: flash chat
Pingback: Labrador Dog
Pingback: Business-Finance
Pingback: Mauritius Villa Rental
Pingback: Schamanin
Pingback: Japanese Toy
Pingback: Labradoodle Pete
Pingback: los angeles plumbers
Pingback: Sexless Marriage
Pingback: Villas in Mauritius
Pingback: rc planes
Pingback: lipo battery
Pingback: rc plane kits
Pingback: drake quotes
Pingback: Illicit Encounters
Pingback: work at home job listings
Pingback: BROKER
Pingback: Location Villa Ile Maurice
Pingback: Keurig b60
Pingback: suknia
Pingback: watch avengers online
Pingback: recipes
Pingback: online dating services for free
Pingback: women dating websites
Pingback: relationshipproblemshelp.org
Pingback: Mauritius Villas
Pingback: black ops aimbot
Pingback: web scribble
Pingback: wholesale power balance bracelets
Pingback: survival in the wilderness
Pingback: facebook poker chips
Pingback: samsung galaxy s2 accessories
Pingback: cystic acne remedies
Pingback: how to cure yeast infection naturally
Pingback: ms office 2007 product key
Pingback: marijuana clinics in woodland hills
Pingback: medical weed card ca
Pingback: complete SEO company
Pingback: SDSDB-1024-P36
Pingback: Calorie Diet Plan
Pingback: Padded Bra Inserts
Pingback: kitchen aid toaster
Pingback: rs232 pinout
Pingback: physics games
Pingback: kitchen aid toaster
Pingback: Forex-Broker
Pingback: Palawan Underground River
Pingback: my blog
Pingback: Villa Ile Maurice
Pingback: free online multiplayer games
Pingback: savings plan
Pingback: derreichesack
Pingback: painting commission
Pingback: Sex Kontakt - Sex Chat
Pingback: Speedo Triathlon Wetsuits
Pingback: NFL inflatables
Pingback: how a company goes public
Pingback: penny stocks
Pingback: best hero camera
Pingback: kitchen mixer taps
Pingback: Profit Alert Machine Forum
Pingback: Kopa lagenheter i Antalya
Pingback: safari lodges
Pingback: teaching resources for maths
Pingback: curtain poles
Pingback: make money online
Pingback: Self Catering Accommodation Mauritius
Pingback: Hanukkah Gift Baskets
Pingback: hotell visby
Pingback: Woor Gasification Boiler
Pingback: Malibu Cosmetic Dentist
Pingback: pokerist poker chips
Pingback: Schwinn 240 Recumbent Bike
Pingback: Cool website
Pingback: Seo company
Pingback: direct payday lenders
Pingback: My Blog Title
Pingback: orbital shaker
Pingback: Mauritius Apartments
Pingback: Click Here!
Pingback: facebook poker cheat
Pingback: catalogo gafas
Pingback: High speed mediafire links
Pingback: Decorative Bird Feeders
Pingback: buy junk cars buffalo
Pingback: Mauritius Holiday Villas
Pingback: Scott Tucker
Pingback: Scott Tucker
Pingback: look at this
Pingback: Scott Tucker
Pingback: Fly Fish Flies
Pingback: Scott Tucker
Pingback: sinus headache relief
Pingback: Paranasal sinuses
Pingback: Scott Tucker
Pingback: making money online
Pingback: Discount Beauty Products
Pingback: Scott Tucker
Pingback: Horde leveling guide
Pingback: beef stew
Pingback: Bail Bonds Los Angeles
Pingback: Scholarships for Minorities
Pingback: Supercuts Coupons
Pingback: Elder Care Bellflower
Pingback: Looking around
Pingback: Great Clips Printable Coupons
Pingback: theherbsforhealth
Pingback: Loestrin 24 Fe Side Effects
Pingback: Scholarships for Single Mothers
Pingback: While I was {browsing|surfing} {today|yesterday} I {saw|noticed} a {great|excellent} {post|article} {about|concerning}
Pingback: Marketing Surrey
Pingback: Internal Doors
Pingback: Elder Care Cabazon
Pingback: cool driver
Pingback: personal trainer tampa
Pingback: betainvites.com
Pingback: audios subliminales
Pingback: Australia
Pingback: theorganicherbs
Pingback: reverse phone call lookup
Pingback: cookingwithherbs
Pingback: Portland Bookkeeping
Pingback: best way to get rid of acne
Pingback: How to Save a Marriage
Pingback: game hosting
Pingback: Letter From US Airlines
Pingback: Tummy Tuck
Pingback: vibro plate
Pingback: lord and taylor coupons
Pingback: how to give a lap dance
Pingback: batman sdcc
Pingback: Bodybuilding Hobby
Pingback: Elder Care Amboy
Pingback: Brother DCP-7040
Pingback: art commission
Pingback: Schwinn 240 Recumbent Exercise Bike
Pingback: Taylor T5
Pingback: sewa kendaraan di jakarta
Pingback: best logitech computer speakers
Pingback: vintage
Pingback: tsm 22 meat grinder
Pingback: Toenail Removal
Pingback: pooltablelightspot.com
Pingback: where to go on vacation
Pingback: Carpet Cleaner Milford
Pingback: Snowbird Auto Shipping
Pingback: free wife porn
Pingback: Tenby Carpet Cleaner
Pingback: gostovanje spletnih strani
Pingback: massagerspot.com
Pingback: cell phone infrastructure
Pingback: Computer Directory
Pingback: Movers Miami
Pingback: ipad
Pingback: Though
Pingback: San Diego Foreclosures
Pingback: Pest Control Service
Pingback: Computer
Pingback: vehicle shipping
Pingback: private krankenversicherung
Pingback: energy drink
Pingback: option trading education
Pingback: Bail Bonds Los Angeles
Pingback: Tummy Tuck Before And After
Pingback: how to play card games
Pingback: leather ipad case
Pingback: Sexless Marriage
Pingback: Find jobs
Pingback: Dell Inspiron 2500 Battery
Pingback: save my marriage
Pingback: pellet
Pingback: Save The Marriage ebook
Pingback: Brooklyn Carpet Cleaning
Pingback: Oriental Rug Cleaning
Pingback: skil table saws
Pingback: subprime car finance
Pingback: service sink faucet
Pingback: state pension
Pingback: exercise for sciatica
Pingback: small sectional couch
Pingback: leather sofas for sale
Pingback: reebok zigs
Pingback: credit cards
Pingback: free marriage advice
Pingback: herbal remedies
Pingback: Colorado rehab treatment
Pingback: Bosch Impact Wrench
Pingback: Extreme sports videos
Pingback: orthokeratology
Pingback: Finance Maverick News Blog
Pingback: PowerPoint Courses
Pingback: Famous Couples 10
Pingback: finance
Pingback: Online marriage counseling
Pingback: puppy breeders
Pingback: runescape classic
Pingback: top 10 preworkout supplements
Pingback: onions soup
Pingback: p90x meal plan
Pingback: jailbreak iphone 5
Pingback: letting agents brighton
Pingback: property for sale in Spain
Pingback: Soccer Betting
Pingback: letting agents edinburgh
Pingback: glo-bus
Pingback: Herbal Technology
Pingback: tea kettle
Pingback: Low residue diet food list
Pingback: Microsoft Visio training courses
Pingback: Office Space Planning
Pingback: how to lose stomach fat
Pingback: Pizza Hut Coupons
Pingback: retouch
Pingback: chicken recipes for dinner
Pingback: party food
Pingback: Pest Control Service
Pingback: website backlinks
Pingback: Hojo Motor
Pingback: dora_game
Pingback: high blood pressure remedies
Pingback: registry easy review
Pingback: Happybooster
Pingback: How To Lose Thigh Fat
Pingback: Custom Home Theater Install Houston
Pingback: How to Fix a Relationship
Pingback: Bottle Cooler - Help for Heroes
Pingback: Download Softwares
Pingback: increase traffic
Pingback: Cheap effective SEO & link building
Pingback: local search marketing
Pingback: sports fundraising
Pingback: How to get rid of acne scars naturally
Pingback: travertine sydney
Pingback: computer services
Pingback: Web Hosting
Pingback: florist in Astoria Queens
Pingback: nsa sex
Pingback: reverse phone call lookup
Pingback: Trophies
Pingback: invicta watches
Pingback: how to start a small business
Pingback: pc games free download
Pingback: Schrottabholung
Pingback: san mateo interior painting
Pingback: rockface Gem Beryl
Pingback: Workmans auto insurance
Pingback: whey protein powder
Pingback: Burn stomach fat
Pingback: hcg news 2011
Pingback: buy guaranteed twitter followers
Pingback: Funny Pictures
Pingback: magic of making up
Pingback: General Business Directory
Pingback: General Business Directory
Pingback: edm san francisco
Pingback: total jerkface happy wheels
Pingback: mark quinones
Pingback: plastic surgery las vegas
Pingback: gain coupons
Pingback: Trade Advertising Marketing
Pingback: Learn About Injury News
Pingback: hcg diet reviews
Pingback: Fort William B&B
Pingback: Manual Transmission
Pingback: big tits
Pingback: Cheap Nba Basketball Jerseys
Pingback: sbobet
Pingback: save auto insurance
Pingback: Old Navy coupon codes
Pingback: Wat Kost Een Autoverzekering
Pingback: solar panels
Pingback: Diablo 3
Pingback: aristocrat pokies emulator download
Pingback: Jake223
Pingback: reviews of ellipticals
Pingback: tony buzan speed reading pdf
Pingback: Pokies
Pingback: criminal justice online college
Pingback: Waldorf Frommer
Pingback: Weste gestalten
Pingback: bodybuilding.com
Pingback: military car shipping
Pingback: Kopi toraja
Pingback: Jarred Ahn
Pingback: Compensation Claims Solicitors
Pingback: Thai language australia
Pingback: buy coffee
Pingback: Herbal supplement
Pingback: wind farm insurance
Pingback: cashverify
Pingback: Garmin Forerunner 305
Pingback: brass door knockers
Pingback: plumber Andover
Pingback: Carcinoma Small Cell
Pingback: cPanel Web Hosting
Pingback: best toronto escort
Pingback: http://hi-files.net/user/Sminidibpriendf/
Pingback: buy facebook fans
Pingback: audio system
Pingback: iphone 5
Pingback: Cyalume
Pingback: greenville sc real estate
Pingback: math tutor
Pingback: barondesigognac com
Pingback: guelph dentist
Pingback: Christmas
Pingback: minoxidil for eyebrows
Pingback: fun games
Pingback: guaranteed facebook fans
Pingback: plumber Andover
Pingback: Stages of Beauty
Pingback: Debate Politics
Pingback: Cosmetic Surgery Los Angeles
Pingback: norfolk seo
Pingback: Chicken And Shrimp Recipes
Pingback: Christmas dessert recipes
Pingback: earn money online
Pingback: Botox Rotterdam
Pingback: payday cash advance
Pingback: project course
Pingback: vegas towers ipad
Pingback: Palm Reading
Pingback: Gafas Versace
Pingback: Flat Rate Computer Repair
Pingback: Medical Billing Online Training
Pingback: iPhone 5
Pingback: Chicken avocado sauce
Pingback: online appointment scheduling
Pingback: javascript course
Pingback: quick weight loss diet
Pingback: low home equity loans
Pingback: Foal Color Calculator
Pingback: medical malpractice nyc
Pingback: bankruptcy lawyers long beach
Pingback: cosmetic dentist Derby
Pingback: tv online