By: Jennifer Brodsky
I went to the Philadelphia Zoo this
summer and spent an hour watching the orangutans. The young male was climbing all over his
mother and swinging back and forth on a fire hose. He reminded me of a small child and, apart
from the obvious appearance differences, seemed he really could be human.
Zookeepers have used sign language
to communicate with their orangutans for some time now. Using their hands, orangutans can express
simple wants and needs. This is no doubt
fascinating, but what if we could actually communicate with them, beyond the
pointing of a hand? Well, recent studies
in several zoos all over the nation suggest that we can.
The six orangutans living in
Miami’s Jungle Island use iPads to expand their vocabularies and just have a
little fun! The program’s manager, Linda
Jacobs, says there were immediate positive results following the introduction
of iPads. Other than the senior orangutans
who weren’t very enthusiastic, all the others have shown instant interest and
understanding. The toddlers enjoy many
of the free apps that human toddlers like, such as drawing and finger
painting. The older females enjoy
looking at themselves and watching videos of male orangutans.
Orangutans share 97% of
our DNA and, therefore, are very closely related to humans along with Gorillas,
Chimpanzees, and Bonobos. Great apes
have significantly high volumes of cerebellum, ranging from 50-70 cc compared
to other monkeys who average at about 8 cc (Humans have around 140 cc). The cerebellum is involved in movement and
cognition. As James K. Rilling explains
in his essay Human and NonHuman Primate
Brains: Are They Allometrically Scaled Versions of the Same Design, “Connections with motor areas
would increase the speed and skill of movement, while connections with cognitive
areas would improve the speed and skill of thought.” (Rilling 69). This
explains how the great apes are able to not only learn at a higher level than
other monkeys, but are able to learn quickly.
Jacobs sees a bright
future in the use of iPads for communication.
Using apps made for children with Autism, the orangutans are building an
impressive vocabulary. By pointing at
words and pictures they are learning how to form sentences and answer
questions. Once an orangutan-proof case
is found, the zoo will be able to set up screens in the enclosures and out of
them, so that the public can ask questions and build a better understanding of
this endangered species. Jacobs,
however, makes a point to note that the project is not for the entertainment of
guests. Orangutans have proven
themselves very intelligent, and they need mental stimulation to keep
busy. Through this enrichment we may
just find that these great apes have a lot to say.
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