The Madu Bunch: The Introduction of Keju and the Management of a Large
Group of Unrelated Orangutans
Lynn Yakubinis
Senior Keeper Primate Department
Zoo Atlanta
Keju
In 2015, learned that Keju needed to be placed with a surrogate mother
• Madu --33 year old Sumatran – Surrogate raised 3 males
• Bernas – now at Denver zoo
• Dumadi
• Remy
– Never had offspring of her own
– Very smart, loves to train
– Very food motivated!
Madu – the “Super mom”
– Chantek – 38 year old hybrid male
– Dumadi – 9 year old Sumatran male
– Remy – 5 year old Sumatran male
Madu’s group
• Keju – 6 month old Bornean female
– At Henry Vilas Zoo
Planning for Keju’s arrival
• Work on separating him from Madu for longer periods of time
• Dumadi was the key to success
Training Plan for Remy
Best big brother ever – Dumadi! • Very attentive to Remy
• As training progressed – Dumadi and Remy choose to stay together more
• Increase length of time Remy separated from Madu
• Remy separated – Bachelor troop formed
– Chantek, Dumadi and Remy become a short-term bachelor troop
– Dumadi “adopts” Remy and takes care of him
– At first Chantek separated overnight
• Then, overnight doors crept so Remy can separate from Chantek if desired
After Keju’s arrival
• Remy becomes more independent and playful – races Dumadi around exhibit
• Dumadi and Remy wrestle, play and groom more
• All three males play together and eat in close proximity
Bachelor troop
• Quarantine for 2 days in nursery
Keju’s arrival
Keju’s arrival cont. • Mesh to mesh introduction with Madu and
Remy for 1 day – All bottle feedings are through the cage mesh of small front enclosure
– Keepers worked with Keju all day to acclimate her to Madu, cage mesh and enclosure
• Placed Keju in small front enclosure and shifted Madu into same space – Madu picked her up right away
• Pat Keju to try and calm her
– Keju not comfortable • Tried to climb on mesh to get away
• Lot of vocalizations
• Reach towards keepers
Introduction
• Adjust plan
– Watch from down the hall on camera
– Change which keeper offers food/bottle
– Keeper visits to a minimum
– Keju not drinking full bottles – offer produce and bottles more often
– Minimal overnight feeding – observe with camera
Introduction cont.
• The next day
– Keju very calm with Madu and start to consume full bottles
– A noise startled her and she turned to Madu for comfort
Introduction cont.
• Daytime mesh access first between the two groups
– Dumadi and Remy very interested in Keju
• Played with her gently through the mesh as Madu allowed
Reintroduction plan for group
• Remy introduced first – 3 weeks after intro.
– Remy very interested in Keju but gentle and only interacted as Madu allowed
– Separate him after a few hours
– Readily returned to “bachelor troop” of Chantek and Dumadi
Reintroduction cont.
• 3 days later - Introduction outdoors
• Very smooth intro – gentle interaction
• Days later one observed playful “baby stealing” by Dumadi
Introduce to Chantek and Dumadi
• New group housed together during the day
• 2 person routine for mid-day bottle feedings
– 1 keeper feeds Dumadi/Chantek at front
– 2nd keeper feeds Keju her bottle and gives Madu/Remy treats
New group management
• Separate group at night
– Girls – 1 bottle feeding at 8pm
– Boys
– BUT, Remy has always had choice where to sleep
• Used to choose boys more often but now sleeps with Madu/Keju most nights
New group management cont.
• Remy and Dumadi get valuable infant experience
• All get to live with other orangutans
• Enriching, dynamic group for all
• Fission/fusion management allows more flexibility
• Benefits of larger group and smaller groups
Benefits of this group
Questions?