Blog Archive

Our two Orang-utans, Karta and Kluet, have been back on exhibit together for just over a month now, having given Kluet time to grow and mature a little more.

Each afternoon they are brought into their off limit area and separated for the night (for management reasons) after spending the day together. They are more than happy to go their separate ways once inside the building and receive their evening meal from keepers.

It is great to have two Orang-utans on exhibit again and some interesting moments have been witnessed. One time, Kluet was at the slide, unsure whether to come inside the building. Karta, not wanting to miss out on anything special, put her arm around his shoulder and gently ‘ushered’ him through the open slide.

Kluet has certainly matured and become more confident around Karta since they were last together. They both have their own individual personalities and traits. If Karta decides to sit in front of the open slide, whilst keepers are trying to bring them indoors, Kluet will generally fluff himself up and display in front of her – either swaying side to side or swinging on a nearby rope to assert himself, before moving past her.

They have also been observed huddled together on several occasions, as if they were telling secrets to each other?! With the recent rain, Karta was seen curled up and Kluet was cuddled around her (ain’t love grand!). Another time, they were at the front of the exhibit, with Karta lying on her back and Kluet pulling her around by the hands. Karta apparently didn’t seem bothered by this playful boyish behaviour and they may have even enjoyed the audience of children watching at the time?!

Murray Guy and Jodie Ellen, Primate Keepers