Orangutan use of vertical space in an innovative habitat
Abstract 10.1002/1098-2361(2000)19:43.3.CO;2-Z This study measured use of vertical space in an innovative habitat for three adolescent orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). The indoor habitat was innovative in two main ways: a flooded floor and retractable skylights. It included four large molded trees and interwoven vines throughout 1,620 m3 of space. The exhibit was divided into four vertical […]
Noninvasive semen collection from an adult orangutan
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430120303.abs Preservation of the genetic diversity of the captive orangutan, especially the wild-caught founders, is critical in maintaining a long-term population in zoological parks. One solution to the problem of maintaining maximum genetic diversity would be to initiate a program of artificial insemination for genetically underrepresented individuals through the banking and interinstitutional use of […]
Variables that influence the activity of captive orangutans
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430110306.abs It is well known that the environment significantly influences the behavior of captive animals. However, the specific nature of the cues that promote speciestypical behavior patterns is not usually known. This study extends an earlier investigation by Wilson (Zoo Biology 1: 201–209, 1982). The objective was to identify and quantify specific environmental components […]
Review of medical literature of great apes in the 1980s
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430090206.abs The medical problems of great apes including gorillas (Gorilla gorilla), orangutans (Pongo pymaeus), and chimpanzees (Pan sp.) published during the last decade are reviewed. Anesthetic techniques, diseases or organ systems, neoplasia, infectious diseases, and reproductive problems are reviewed. Gonadal tumors and atherosclerosis in great apes appear frequently in the literature. Diseases with suspected […]
North American orangutan species survival plan: Current status and progress in the 1980s
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430090207.abs The SSP program for orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus ssp.) was initiated in 1982. Since that time, the Propagation Group has dealt with issues related to improving captive management of the species. Prior to 1982, most orangutans in North America were managed as a single species, though a number of institutions did house their Bornean […]
The behavior of a zoo-housed infant orangutan after the death of its mother
Abstract The behavior of an infant female orangutan at Dublin Zoo before and after the death of her mother was recorded using scan sampling and compared. Social interactions and associations of the infant with the other individuals in the group were also compared before and after the death of her mother. Increases in climbing and […]
Token transfers among great apes (Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Pan paniscus, and Pan troglodytes): Species differences, gestural requests, and reciprocal exchange
Great apes appear to be the nonhuman primates most capable of recognizing trading opportunities and engaging in transfers of commodities with conspecifics. Spontaneous exchange of goods between them has not yet been reported. We tested gorillas (Gorilla gorilla), orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), bonobos (Pan paniscus), and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) in a token-exchange task involving two conspecifics […]
Discrete quantity judgments in the great apes (Pan paniscus, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus): The effect of presenting whole sets versus item-by-item
The authors examined quantity-based judgments for up to 10 items for simultaneous and sequential whole sets as well as for sequentially dropped items in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), gorillas (Gorilla gorilla), bonobos (Pan paniscus), and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). In Experiment 1, subjects had to choose the larger of 2 quantities presented in 2 separate dishes either […]
Nonenculturated Orangutans’ (Pongo pygmaeus) Use of Experimenter-Given Manual and Facial Cues in an Object-Choice Task
Several experiments have been performed, to examine whether nonhuman primates are able to make use of experimenter-given manual and facial (visual) cues to direct their attention to a baited object. Contrary to the performance of prosimians and monkeys, great apes repeatedly have shown task efficiency in experiments such as these. However, many great ape subjects […]
Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) Encode Relevant Problem Features in a Tool-Using Task
Two important elements in problem solving are the abilities to encode relevant task features and to combine multiple actions to achieve the goal. The authors investigated these 2 elements in a task in which gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) had to use a tool to retrieve an out-of-reach reward. Subjects were able to […]