Butch was the boy that moved in “next
door” after Henry the orangutan had just moved to another zoo. When Butch and
Ibu first saw one another there was eye contact, and then he looked away. She
immediately liked him and she watched him for a few moments. He would
frequently ignore her as he became comfortable in his new home, but it was
evident he liked her too. While Ibu was curious and more assertive, Butch
remained shy in their partitioned meetings.
There is nothing particularly endearing about
being a viable genetic match on a scientific database. However, Ibu and Butch
were matched based on an Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (SSP). In a way, this successfully
matched, expecting couple met online.
The slow introduction process is
designed to be sure both animals are stress free. Sexually receptive females
seek out mature males and are attracted to their unique long, low calls.
Over a three month period, they continued
their slow introduction through a mesh door. Ibu and Butch spent about 3 months
meeting through a partition. After their initial encounter, he would approach
her, coming toward the partition while avoiding eye contact. Once she looked
away, his eyes were immediately on her. As she caught on to his game, she would
turn away and quickly turn back – surprising him and catching him off guard.
Butch would reach through the mesh partition, resting his hand partially on her
side of the mesh. One day, Ibu reached out and touched him, again, catching him
off guard. He gently moved his hand away, still too shy for eye contact. After
Ibu touched Butch, she began sharing with him through the mesh. She would pass
him things, such as sticks and leaves.
Then they began eating next to each
other. Gradually, after three months of getting acquainted, they had access to
share space. Because they had slowly been acquainted in way that made each
orangutan familiar to the other, they felt comfortable in each other’s company.
Once together, there was a slight role reversal: Ibu would resist Butch’s
attention.
Female orangutans may form long-term
pair bonds with the same male between child-rearing intervals. Mothers and
their offspring, as well as their grown daughters and their offspring, will form semi-solitary social systems. This may have evolved as a result of a ripe fruit diet, scattered food distribution and a lack of large, tree-dwelling predators. Currently in the wild,
orangutans live more solitary lives as deforestation threatens their habitat
and their food supply, creating competition for scarce resources. In situations
where migration and competition for food is unnecessary, such as in zoos,
orangutans are very comfortable in social groups.
Over the last two years, Ibu and Butch
have become more bonded and are even closer than when they first glanced at
each other through the partition. She’ll
come to him, he’ll walk away. Eventually, they will nap together or sit next to
one another, sharing spaces.
One huge indication of their successful
bond is sharing food. Ibu gathered palm fruit from the trees in the exhibit and
brought it to Butch and shared it with him. Because orangutans’ solitude is
food supply dependent, this was a grand gesture on her part, indicating her fondness
for him. Butch observed Ibu climbing the palms and gathering the fruit and
learned from her how to gather it. After he gathered his first palm fruit, he
brought it to her to share. Not a bad partnership for a couple who just
happened to have “found” each other online.
