Blog Archive

The orangutans had a brilliant day for their birthday bash! Kluet and Karta shared a party celebrating their birthdays, which are only 4 days apart. The wonderful Zoo volunteers prepared them a huge birthday box that was filled with other boxes and cardboard rolls which had all sorts of treats inside like sultanas, peanuts and some popcorn (unsalted and unbuttered of course so it is nice and healthy!) .

They both gobbled up the treats quickly but that did not mean the fun was over! With a huge cardboard box to play with Kluet and Karta amused themselves all day. They dragged it all over their exhibit taking turns to hop inside. At one point Kluet was walking around with the box over his head much to Karta’s amusement.

In the end the both cuddled up together and shared the box. They had so much fun with it that we left it for them to play with the following day as well, although by then it was more like it was parts of a cardboard box as they had torn it up and used it for nesting material.

By giving them enrichment items such as boxes, it gives the orangutans something new in their environment, which not only keeps them physically busy but mentally stimulated as well.

As orangutan keepers, we love to see the orangutans enjoying themselves but we also wanted to use Kluet and Karta’s birthday to highlight the threats their species face in the wild by drawing attention to the devastating impact the palm oil industry is having on orangutans.

We have also started giving public presentations every weekend and on public holidays so that people can hear all about Kluet and Karta, orangutans in the wild and the threats they face.  We hope to see you there!!

Jodie
Primate Keeper, Adelaide Zoo