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?

Lyakubinis@zooatlanta.org