2016 Orangutan Caring Week: Critically Endangered, Critically in Need

From November 13 – 19, we at  encourage you to show your support for orangutan conservation, and to help, we’re providing a few ideas you can do to help orangutans!

1. Make a Paper Craft Orangutan
The creative folks at Canon have come up with a wonderful orangutan 3D model that students can make using these assembly instructions. Teach a lesson on orangutans, decorate your classroom with the models, and then let students take them home as an ongoing reminder of the need to protect these beautiful apes.

2. Are You Smarter Than an Orangutan?
It’s quiz time! Test your  knowledge with this fun game based on the TV quiz show.

3. Enjoy Story Time
Download this comic book and join Ranger Rick and his traveling companions Scarlett Fox and Sammy Squirrel as they explore the wildlife of Indonesia and wonder: where are all the orangutans?

4. Learn About Palm Oil
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo developed a handy resource kit full of information about palm oil, how it effects orangutans, and what you can do to help protect orangutan habitat by using products that contain Certified Sustainable Palm Oil.

5. Visit the El Paso Zoo

With regular Zoo programs, you can learn more orangutans! Also, when you visit the Zoo to see your orangutan friends, Butch, Ibu and Khaleesi, you help contribute to orangutan conservation worldwide.

Here's looking at you kid!

It's it so fun to have a little one? We love watching Khaleesi grow - looks like Ibu likes watching, too!

Hello from the other side ...

Orangutans are the only primarily arboreal great ape and are actually the largest tree living mammal in the world. Ibu loves climbing to the highest, top-most point of her exhibit so she has a 360-view of the Zoo! 

In the wild, orangutans live and sleep up in the trees, sometimes as high as 120 feet above the ground. Orangutans usually have little need to come down from the trees, as they are uniquely adapted for their arboreal lifestyle.

So live from the El Paso Zoo ... hello from the other side ... 

Model Behavior

Have you brought your babies to see Ibu’s baby Khaleesi?

Ibu has been observed mimicking human mommy behavior! If you’ve been a new mommy, maybe you’ve looked to your friends and colleagues (and blogs!) for tips and advice. 

Since the day Khaleesi was born, the orangutan keepers have spent many hours making daily observations of Ibu and Khaleesi to contribute orangutan conservation and research worldwide. As scientists, the keepers are documenting crucial information by taking pictures and notating the orangutan’s behavior in their observation logs. 

Keepers are observing Ibu modeling the same parental behavior as human mommies trying to care for their babies! On this day, Ibu intently watched as this mom held her baby close to the side of her body.  Ibu tried to mimic the same pose.

And if you’ve ever wrapped your baby or used a baby carrier, maybe you have felt just like an orangutan mom…your infant holding on to you – hands free!

Ibu and Khaleesi are now on exhibit all day Friday – Monday. Please note they do have access to their indoor living spaces and may not be immediately visible during that time.

Baby Proofing Khaleesi's new HOME!

Childproofing your home is essential to keeping your baby safe. The El Paso Zoo staff has been hard at work baby proofing the orangutan exhibit for new parents Ibu and Butch!

Zoo keeper Tasha tests out the new tires swing during the “baby-proofing” of the orangutan exhibit. (She might be having too much fun to call it “work,” right?) Volunteer Susie donated this tire swing from Ibu’s baby registry. It is going to be so fun to watch Khaleesi swing on it!

If you’ve ever been a parent, you can probably remember identifying your home's hazards and making it a safe place to roam. Zoo staff has reconstructed much of the orangutan exhibit, making sure all the structures were baby-safe for Khaleesi.

Now that the exhibit is ready, the keepers have begun introducing Ibu and Khaleesi to baby’s new habitat.

You can still help mom and dad welcome Khaleesi with a gift from her registry at: http://babyli.st/ibu-and-butch

Ibu's keepers featured in El Paso Times

Ibu's keepers appeared in this El Paso Times article as part of National Zoo Keeper Week. 

Through positive reinforcement conditioning session, Asia Area Supervisor Rachel Alvarez and Collections Supervisor Griselda Martinez were able to visualize Ibu and Khaleesi after parturition. While Rachel gave verbal cues to Ibu to come to the keepers, Griselda was able to take a closer look at Khaleesi. When she and noticed the umbilicus and placenta were still attached and the chord was partially wrapped around the baby's neck, Griselda decided to offer help to Ibu. 

Griselda asked Ibu to bring the baby closer to the keeper. Rachel gave her the cues to bring both her and her newborn closer so Griselda could touch the chord.

Ibu complied with all the verbal cues from her mommy training. While Rachel was rewarding Ibu as part of her positive training reinforcement for complying and staying steady, Griselda was able to get the chord and placenta by cutting the chord and retrieving it through the mesh. 

The sweet story of their trust-based relationship and the hard work keepers do is retold here. 

El Paso Zoo to highlight its zookeepers' work

By David Hernandez
dahernandez@elpasotimes.com @D4VIDHernandez on Twitter

When the El Paso Zoo welcomed a baby girl Sumatran orangutan in April, supervisor Rachel Alvarez was one of two experienced orangutan zookeepers who helped cut the umbilical chord.

Zookeepers had prepared two years for a healthy pregnancy and birth, from training Ibu to urinate in a cup for a pregnancy testing to teaching the first-time mother to handle a stuffed baby animal. When Alvarez went in to work on the day baby Khaleesi was born, Ibu had just given birth.

All that was left to do was for Ibu to let the zookeepers cut the umbilical cord — and she did. Collections supervisor Griselda Martinez cut the chord while Alvarez helped attend to Ibu. Both keepers had known Ibu for many years.

PHOTO BY VICTOR CALZADA-EL PASO TIMES 

El Paso Zoo zookeeper Rachel Alvarez, an Asia-area supervisor, checked on a snake at the El Paso Zoo Friday.

"You could tell in her face she was bewildered, but she came to us trusting and knowing we weren't going to do anything that was bad or hurt her," said Alvarez, who has worked at the zoo in the Asia area for 15 years. "That trust that we saw in her eyes was very important to us. With all of the work that we put into it, that was such a rewarding moment when she trusted us to cut it off."

In recognition of the work zookeepers do, the El Paso Zoo for the first time will join the American Association of Zoo Keepers to celebrate National Zoo Keeper Week beginning today. The zoo will primarily engage on social media to honor and feature its zookeepers.

"This is something that really allows us as an organization to tell our community what our zookeepers do, and really to value our staff, to value what they do and why it's so important," said Karla Martinez El Paso Zoo Marking and Communications Coordinator.

Karla Martinez and zookeepers say there are many misconceptions about their job, particularly that, as Alvarez said, they just "sit around and play with cute animals."

Zookeepers complete a variety of tasks throughout the day, such as feeding animals, training them, providing medical treatment and cleaning exhibits. El Paso's 39 zookeepers are cross-trained to take care of different types of species, Alvarez said.

While it is not a requirement at the El Paso Zoo, many of the zookeepers have a degree in fields including biology, ecology and zoology.

An important part of a zookeeper's work is creating enrichment activities to bring out animals' natural behaviors.

"As zookeepers, we have to learn our animals," zookeeper Alisa Light said. "What are their natural behaviors? What would they do in the wild? And then how can we simulate that in the care of humans? Because we try to simulate it as closely as we can. A lot of it is research on our own time ... because you run out of time at the zoo."

Light recently built a mirror for a gray crowned crane, who engaged with it by seeing its reflection, tilting its head, and peeking around and behind the mirror.

"You do it to make the animals' life better," Light said.

While Khaleesi's birth was a rewarding experience, Alvarez had to let go of two animals she cared for this year. On two separate occasions, Alvarez, along with staff, decided to euthanize macaques who had health problems, including one that was her favorite.

"Right now, I still go in (her exhibit) and expect to see her, so it's very hard to do those things," Alvarez said. "But if we really love them, we do what's best for them."

Karla Martinez said she admires the work the zookeepers do and their professionalism.

"They work with these animals, and no matter how dangerous these animals are, they do what they do because they love these animals and they want to make sure they're OK," she said.

This spring the zoo began an initiative called "Meet the Keeper" to allow visitors to engage and learn from zookeepers. The program runs through August.

"Our mission is to make sure that people connect with these animals, and I think that (zookeepers) are part of allowing people to make that connection," Karla Martinez said.

Light said interacting with visitors is an opportunity for zookeepers, who constantly engage in conservation efforts, to educate them about different species.

"Opportunities to talk to a guest are always the times to connect with the guest or connect the guest with that animal," she said. "Education is always an opportunity we never let pass."

Khaleesi's birth, for example, was important for the Zoo because it contributed to conservation efforts of her endangered species.

The American Association of Zoo Keepers' El Paso Del Norte chapter, which is affiliated with El Paso's zoo, will hold a wine tasting event, dubbed Winos for Rhinos, on Friday, Aug. 14 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at New Mexico's Sunland Park Winery, 1769 Victory Lane, to raise money for conservation efforts to save the five endangered rhino species as part of the national organization's annual fundraising efforts. Members of the chapter are volunteers, most from El Paso's Zoo, such as Light, who is the chapter's president.

"Our zookeepers are not only making a difference locally ... they're making a difference regionally, nationally, globally with the work they do," Karla Martinez said. "We don't even have a rhino, but they're raising money for rhinos in the wild. With the orangutan that was born here, that made a huge difference to the conservation of orangutans in general. Our zookeepers are making an impact worldwide."

Alvarez, 45, said moments when an animal learns a new command, or show trust in her, like Ibu did, are what keep her working.

"To love and care for animals — that's what keeps me here," she said. "It's hard at times. Sometimes you get sore, you get tired, you get frustrated, but the love of the animals, what I do with the animals and for the animals is why I'm still a zookeeper."

More information on National Zoo Keeper Week:https://www.aazk.org/committee/national-zoo-keeper-week/

More information on Winos for Rhinos: mkt.com/el-paso-del-norte-aazk

David Hernandez may be reached at 546-6154.

Confirming the Pregnancy

Staff monitored Ibu making behavioral observations, but a human urine pregnancy test and ultrasound confirmed she was pregnant.

The female orangutan's menstrual cycle is 28 to 30 days, with menstruation lasting three to five days. The gestation period is approximately eight and a half months, so orangutans are pregnant for about 245 days. This is very close to the pregnancy periods of humans. Female Sumatran orangutans will generally give birth to one infant. Multiple births are possible, though they are rare. In face, Ibu was born a twin. Newborn orangutans weigh about 2 to 4 pounds. 

Behavioral Observations

The first signs Ibu was pregnant came from physical and behavioral observations. First, a normally very cheerful and bubbly Ibu appeared to become more calm and reserved. Likewise, normally Ibu is one of the first animals to come when the trainers call her at noon for training, but after becoming pregnant, she seemed more tired. 

As her keepers observed these changes, they began letting Ibu sleep in longer.  If she still feels up to training, they do an abbreviated 15-minute session. Ibu’s training includes exercises that appear like a work out warm up. It includes stretching, reaching her arms up high, getting her knees up like a march, expanding her hips, climbing and squats, as well as mental exercises for her inquisitive mind.

Physical Observations

Ibu was also going through physical changes in the early months of her pregnancy. Ibu’s keepers and the veterinary staff always monitor her health and well-being, but they are now also regularly monitoring physical changes specific to pregnancy in other to give Ibu the highest level of care possible.

The first changes keepers noticed was that Ibu began sleeping and urinating more than usual. Moreover, her nipples became enlarged and her normally gelatinous, doughy stomach was becoming more firm. Ibu’s hormonal cycle stopped, though she was still spotting at times.

Pregnancy Testing

After her menstruation changed, a human pregnancy test kit was the first confirmation that Ibu was pregnant.

Zoo keepers regularly monitor Ibu’s hormonal cycles and after changes were noted in her cycle, the zoo keepers used a human pregnancy test kit to confirm the pregnancy. Certain brands of over-the-counter tests are known to react accurately with orangutan hormones, and are recommended by the AZA Orangutan Husbandry and Breeding guide.

Ultrasound

The pregnancy was further confirmed through an ultrasound and sonogram. Ibu was trained to present her abdomen for ultrasounds. As part of her prenatal monitoring plan, Ibu will allow the veterinary staff to put the ultrasound probe with gel on her belly. Ibu likes watching the machine and seeing the sonograms.

An ultrasound is a procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to scan the abdomen and pelvic cavity to create a sonogram picture of a baby and placenta. Though an ultrasound and sonogram are technically different, they are frequently used interchangeably in reference to the same exam. 

Saving the Best for Last

Ibu receives prenatal gummy vitamins as part of her pregnancy diet. Because she has a little bit of a sweet tooth, she saves the best for last, and will wait to eat her gummy vitamins – at least until after she’s finished with her carrots and broccoli.

Meanwhile, Butch has begun sharing extra food with Ibu, passing it to her through the mesh partition separating their individual bedroom and living areas. Her favorite foods are sweet fruits: watermelon, strawberries and pineapples.

As far as any particular cravings, it’s hard to tell.

Ibu also shares with Butch. She doesn’t like the tart lemon-flavored prenatal gummy vitamins, so Ibu gives those to Butch. 

IBU and BUTCH – Creating a Bond

 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.

What is a Breeding Recommendation?

A breeding recommendation is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP), an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) copyrighted breeding and conservation program. The SSP is designed to maintain a healthy, self-sustaining, genetically diverse and viable, as well as demographically stable, population of a species in human care in North America. Generally, animal collections in individual zoos and aquariums are typically too small by themselves to impact long-term conservation efforts. The SSP provides a means for conserving species that may not survive in the wild. While zoo populations are established for many reasons – such as conservation education, exhibit of interesting species, and research – establishing managed populations and saving species from extinction is an important contribution of zoos to conservation.

The SSP therefore organizes zoo and aquarium-based efforts to preserve the species in situ. The collaborative management of individual animals within AZA-accredited institutions is critical to ensuring the long-term survival of threatened and endangered species represented in its SSP program, such as Sumatran orangutans.

“Sending animals to other institutions is evidence of how zoos work together to conserve species such as Sumatran orangutans. Our staff builds a bond with each of our animals and these breeding recommendations are important moves,” said Steve Marshall, El Paso Zoo Director.

The goal of breeding programs for threatened and endangered species is to establish populations that are large enough to be demographically stable and genetically healthy. The animals’ health and well-being is a top priority for zoos, and the SSP is part of that goal. Using the SSP, matches are made using a database that determines genetic compatibility while maintaining a healthy age structure. This means the SSP ensures reproduction is reliably successful, protects the population against diseases and preserves the gene pool to avoid the problems of inbreeding.

Butch was transferred to El Paso from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden based on a breeding recommendation to match with Ibu. There are only 12 female Sumatran orangutans under human care in AZA-accredited facilities that have a recommendation this year.

El Paso residents may recall animals being transferred from the zoo because of breeding recommendations. Mosi the giraffe’s was transferred to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Glen Rose, Texas based on a breeding recommendation from the SSP. He is also an expecting father, just like Butch! Again, the mission is to cooperatively manage specific, and typically threatened or endangered species. Similarly, Xerxes the lion was transferred to Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle based on a breeding recommendation. This recommendation was made because the female lions at the El Paso Zoo are related to Xerxes. Since being transferred, Xerxes has sired African lion cubs.