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TRANSCRIPT
Our Accidental
Success Story
The dynamics of a multi-male Sumatran
orangutan group
Kim Emerson
Saint Louis Zoo
Zoo and SSP goal
• One of our goals has
been for our adult
female to conceive
and rear another
offspring.
• Attempts made since
2010 with no success
Group Composition
• Merah – adult female – 44 years – breeding
female
• Rubih – sub-adult female – Merah’s daughter – 9
years
Male #1: Robert B • Robert B arrived in 2011 based on
recommendations by the SSP.
• Previous institution had recorded
copulation with their female
• Introductions uneventful
• Robert showed no sexual interest
in Merah
• Two years later and still no
interest
Moving Forward
• Robert B great social
addition
• Merah and Rubih
enjoyed spending time
with him
• Lack of copluation
• Conflicted on how to
move forward
• Due to Merah’s age and
valuable genetics
something had to be
done.
How?
• Due to several factors, Robert could not
immediately be placed at another institution.
• Multiple questions arose:
• Give up on the breeding for Merah?
• Bring in another male and house two
males separately?
• If we brought in another male more
questions arose:
• Housing capabilities?
• Male suppression?
• Aggression?
• Tolerance?
Male #2: Cinta
• We inquired with the SSP
and there was a younger
male that needed to be
placed.
• Cinta – un-flanged male – 9
years
Plan #1 • Introduce Merah,
Rubih and Cinta
together
• Robert would
remain out of the
group during
introductions
• SSP possibly find a
new home for
Robert in 2-3 years
Introductions
• Introductions proven to be quite difficult
• Merah constantly aggressed Cinta
• Ended introductions after aggression did
not dissipate
• Re-grouped and came up with alternate
introduction plans
• Consulted with SSP
Plan #2
• SSP recommendation
• Rubih and Cinta introduced without Merah
• Merah happy with this arrangement
• Rubih and Cinta stayed away from each other
• No interactions seen
• Ended this after a few days when Rubih began
exhibiting severe stress behaviors
Rubih’s injury
• Self-mutilating behavior
• Rubbing front teeth/gum
line against steel cage mesh
• Large hole exposing jawbone
• Occurred during one overnight
• Two anesthesia’s resulting in front tooth
extraction
• Loss of trust with Rubih
Time Out
• Decided to time out the
introductions
• Boys separated
• Gain more trust with
Cinta
• Merah and Rubih together
• Allow Rubih time to heal
• Gain Rubih’s trust back
Moving Forward (Again)
• Gained trust back with Rubih
• Decided to try Merah, Rubih
and Cinta again
• Still didn’t work
• Constant aggression
• Attempted for another
several days with the same
result
Mixed Emotions
• Frustration – no progress in any direction
• Confusion – why was Merah acting this way
• Disappointment – no copluation = no baby
• Sadness – Robert temporarily living alone
• Due to off exhibit housing constraints we
had to move Cinta into a holding cage with
mesh access to Robert.
• Keepers standing by to observe behavior
and potential aggression
Surprise!
• But we didn’t see ANY
aggression.
• Quite the opposite.
• It was the most
positive interaction we
had seen between
Cinta and another
orangutan since his
arrival in Saint Louis.
Instant Friends
• Robert did not seem to mind the new guy.
• Cinta immediately drawn to Robert.
• Ran over to sit near him.
• Held his hand.
• Robert did not move away.
• Food sharing between the mesh.
• Nesting near each other overnight.
Plan #3???
• Keepers began
brainstorming ideas to
have Robert help us get
Cinta into the group.
• Merah, Rubih and
Robert have an excellent
relationship.
• Robert= glue?
• Male to male
introductions?
Plan #3 = Two Males
• We decided to move forward by introducing
the two males.
• Gave them as much room as possible for the
introductions which included off exhibit and
the indoor dayroom.
Male Intros • Completely uneventful
• Cinta glued to Robert’s side
• Robert did not mind
• Nesting, feeding, sitting near
each other most of the day
• Separated at night with mesh
access to continue facilitating
positive interactions
Two Dyads • Continued like this for over a month
• Allowed males time to bond
• Alternated groups on and off exhibit
Re-Introduced
• Time to move forward
• Introduced 2 males to 2
females
• Merah initially aggressed
Cinta
• Robert watching
• Occasionally intervening
• Rubih sticking close to
Merah or stayed away from
everyone
• Cinta stayed with Robert and Merah and Rubih
stayed with each other
• Merah aggressed upon initial release into exhibit
• Time spent aggressing decreased over time
• Rubih more curious about Cinta and vice versa
Cinta + Rubih
• Increased proximity
• Increased curiosity
• Pestering
• Testing boundaries
• Eventually led to no boundaries
• Play!
Cinta + Rubih ≠ Merah
• Decreased aggression
• But still no interest from
Merah
• Cinta curious but
nervous
• Interactions daily with
most orangutans
• The exception =
Merah and Cinta
Interesting
• Increased
grooming among
all orangutans
• Cinta groomed
Robert daily
• Merah’s grooming
of Rubih also
increased
• Rubih groomed
Robert
occasionally
Happy?
• Content with this situation
• Social companionship for all
Living together, now what?
• Increase neutral interactions between Merah
and Cinta
• Merah still spent more time with Robert when
ovulation was predicted
• Perhaps due to Cinta’s age/size she did not
consider him for breeding.
• Especially with an adult male like Robert
around
But…
• Merah and Cinta began sitting in close
proximity when others were also present
• No aggression during these encounters
• Contact made!
• Hand touching
• Eating in proximity
• 4 orangutans nesting near each other
Spring/Summer 2013
• Back into outdoor
habitat
• Merah protective of
outdoor habitat
• Aggression returned
but short lived
Late summer 2013
• Age still a factor for Merah
• Still want breeding
• New plan hatched
• Continued social
companionship for
Robert
• Continue breeding
attempts with
Cinta/Merah
• Keep Merah/Rubih/Cinta together 24/7
• Given access to holding and exhibit
• Separate Robert out for 8 days
• During Merah’s predicted ovulation range
• One month completed
• First few days everyone seemed confused and
concerned about Robert’s whereabouts
• Adjusted well after that
Right Direction
• Increased sexual
interest
• Zero previous
interest
• Happy with this
progress
• Will continue with the
temporary separation
for the time being
Final Thoughts
• Orangutan group = not the norm
• Goals achieved
• Social companionship for all orangutans
• No aggression from Merah
• Goals in progress
• Sexual interest between Cinta and Merah
• Increase Cinta’s confidence