Hi, I am currently studying MSc Primate Conservation and I have an idea for my final project - to see if their are any behavioural differences between mature flanged male orangutans kept alone (except for breeding) and those kept continuously in a group. I am struggling to find which zoos currently keep a male alone. I *think* (my information may be outdated so please tell me if I am wrong!) I have Chester, Jersey and Apenheul, possibly Houston Zoo? Can anyone tell me of anywhere that keeps solitary orangutans? Thanks
Dudley have two males. Both afaik are kept solitary. The older one has no partner, the younger is/was seperated to prevent harassment of the mother/young .
Apenheul does not have solitary males, the 2 males are practically always with certain females, though which of the 4 female-youngster groups are lucky changes.
Here's an international Orang studbook form 2011. Might be a little out of date but maybe you can sort out some that are being kept alone at a zoo. Could give you a bit of a start. http://alouattasen.weebly.com/uploa...angutaninternationalstudbook2012-184980c9.pdf You could also try contacting the AZA's SSP program leader. If they are willing to share info they would be you're best bet in North America for the most up to date info on orangs and their groupings at all member zoos. This link will give you the names of the people you might try contacting. https://ams.aza.org/eweb/DynamicPag..._pt1_key=92bae3e8-3e14-4373-80ca-4b6995704dc6
Colchester has 2 males only at the moment, but i don't know if they socialise. I've seen them in separate indoor enclosures, but only one of them outside.
Dagu at Jersey isn't kept alone, neither is Puluh at Chester. I don't know about Tuan at Chester because the Borneans are largely off show. The two males at Colchester, Tiga and hybrid Rajang, comprise a 'bachelor group' - there are no females there.
Perth Zoo is a leader of the idea that orang-utans are basically a solitary species and that captive animals should reflect the wild situation. They keep all their adults separately, but note it is important that visual contact between related adult females is maintained for learning mothering skills. Both adult males are usually singually unless for breeding purposes. Suggest contacting them for more info.
I wish that more Zoos would follow this model. Unfortunately the need to display them more economically usually means a single enclosure for a larger 'group' which is definately not natural.
Hsing Hsing (breeding male) is actually in with Utara full time: http://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/birthday-celebrations-for-unusual-friends-at-perth-zoo-20452/
Tuan has been kept alone for a few years. The Borneans are only 'off show' in that they take themselves indoors when they want to. I usually manage to see them when I go (except this weekend ) Tuan is off show, even when he goes out it's onto the old island which is fenced off although he was spotted in the summer at the top of the climbing frame.
They do still socialise, they wrestle a bit and are seen holding hands. Tiga is becoming more dominant now.
I'm definitely a fan of Perth's orangutan set up, I'd love to see something similar in more zoos. Last time I was there Dinar was living with Punya.
Keeping them "natural" for the sake of the human visitors? If they are not stressed, it may be a kind of enrichment to live in a group with females and youngsters. As far as I could see, they enjoy it. Mixing different species follows the same idea.
I think it varies a lot between orangutans. Secondly the male may enjoy it but I'm sure some females would rather not have a male around, some males the females seem to really like, some they avoid and some they wish they could avoid.
I agree with OrangePerson that it depends on the individual, some orangs being more sociable than others, while some might find social situations more stressful. The pair at my local zoo are besotted with one another, but for others a more natural social set up may work better. I feel it should be an option for females to avoid males if they wish.
I'm sure the visitors would rather see them in (unnatural) groups than singly. Keeping them 'natural' (singly) would be more for the benefit of the animals themselves. EEP's take on this is that Orangutan is, by nature, a solitary species but one that that will also live in social combinations in captivity. As others have pointed out above, it very much depends on the individuals how well it works. Males and small infants in particular are often( but not always) a dangerous combination- for the infant that is.
