ENRICHMENT FOR ORANGUTANS

Within our Orangutan Rehabilitation and Reintroduction Centers in Samboja Lestari and Nyaru Menteng, orangutan welfare is a top priority.  There are many tools developed to keep our orangutans busy and active such as swings, balls, ropes and a variety of tools designed to encourage long periods of foraging.  These are what we call ‘enrichment tools’, but what exactly are they for?
 

Enrichment in Nyaru Menteng

Enrichment has always been an important part of our work within our Centers and in 2013, the Enrichment Division at Nyaru Menteng refreshed their team composition and activities. The project started by renewing name tags on each enclosure, remapping what type of enrichment existed within each enclosure and what enrichment would further improve orangutan welfare.

Fleur L. Butcher from Melbourne Zoo in Australia has been working with our team at Nyaru Menteng for many years.  With new support from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) to the BOS Foundation in 2013, the Enrichment Team who continue to strive to maintain and renew equipment, added new enrichment facilities for each enclosure and refreshed knowledge on why enrichment is so important.  There are many things to consider when implementing new enrichment infrastructure, such as cleanliness and hygiene of the enclosures, eating and drinking facilities, safety of the “enrichment furniture”, all of which needs to take into account the individual orangutans’ needs and characters.
 
Enrichment tools are vital for orangutans in our rehabilitation centers. The main purpose is to ensure that we provide the necessary positive stimulation, tailor-made for each individual.  Enrichment development is vital in helping to maintain displaced orangutans wild nature and avoid stress and unnatural behaviour. Enrichment tools encourage orangutans to act naturally which in turn influences their improved quality of life.

For instance, swinging ropes are provided so orangutans’ limbs are continually built and conditioned to swing and climb as they would in the forest.  Food enrichment, such as termites or forest fruits help orangutans to recognise their natural foods. Foliage is also provided for orangutans situated in enclosures.  This helps them maintain their nest building skills.
 

Completing the Enrichment Tools

The Enrichment Team collated all the materials needed such as balls, logs, drums, pipes, etc. Most importantly is to make sure those materials and assembly of enrichment tools, are non-hazardous to the orangutans.  Enrichment tools should also be customised according to the special needs of each orangutan, especially those who are blind, or have lost limbs, mother-infant pairs, and so on.  Tools are carefully crafted to keep orangutans busy foraging as they would in the wild.

Additional to the safety issue, the duration of each enrichment tool or session should also be calculated. The Team must know which form of enrichment each orangutan likes the most, including equipment most used. The enrichment should then be regularly checked and arranged to suit the number of orangutans in an enclosure. The best enrichment is made from natural ingredients and materials, such as coconuts, ants, termite nests etc. This enrichment will teach young orangutans to problem solve on how to open difficult foods and consume the inside parts.

Enrichment is not only for the orangutans! Our Nyaru Menteng Enrichment Team also equips the sun bear enclosures with enrichment tools. Leaves and old logs filled with termites are provided in each enclosure and changed frequently.  The enclosures are designed to imitate the forest environment to keep the bears from being bored and stressed.

Great job guys!  Keep up the good work.