Orangutans

The Memphis Zoo is home to 1 male and 2 female orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus).  In an effort to better care for these highly intelligent animals, operant conditioning has become a major part of their captive care.  First and foremost, this type of training is used for husbandry purposes.  Second, operant conditioning mentally stimulates these animals and is great enrichment. 

All three orangs have been trained to present various body parts for inspection.  This includes: mouth, ears, eyes, arms, hands, feet, stomach, back, etc...  The male will even present his throat sac on command and allow it to be manipulated (a very useful behavior in orangs since throat sac infections are a common malady). 

Tombak the orangutan doing an open mouth presentation

Tombak doing a shoulder presentation for Matt Thompson

A major part of our training with the orangs has been teaching them to accept an injection.  This process started with a simple shoulder presentation and a little desensitization.  Once the animal was presenting its shoulder we started lightly pinching the approximate area that the injection would take place.  After the animal was used to that, we started using a blunted needle and syringe  to further desensitize and to add realism to the process.  The next step was to actually stick the animal in the shoulder with a tuberculin syringe.  Because we had gone slow enough with the first few steps, the animals were not alarmed at this step.  Once the animals were used to the real thing, we slowly moved to a needle large enough to deliver an injectable substance (20 - 22 gauge).  The final step in the training process was to start injecting the animals with sterile saline.  This allowed the orangs to become used to the entire feeling of receiving an injection.  Although, this process took months of work, it has certainly paid off.  All three of our orangs will now sit for an injection.  What used to be a negative experience has turned positive because the animals know they will be rewarded for cooperating.  All three animals have been given vaccinations and even anesthetized for physicals using this method.

Tombak receiving his tetanus vaccination

Tombak receiving his food reward following his vaccination

Special thanks to Matt Thompson for writing the above text

Special thanks also to all involved with the orangutan training including Kristi Newland, Lynn Rosenberg, and Matt Thompson