Beaten by a 9yr old
Trip Start
Jul 30, 2010
1
6
66
Trip End
May 29, 2011
Kampong Ulu Kelang Dalam, Malaysia
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
This is the 2nd attempt at this particular blog. Didn't post the 1st attempt as I felt on review it was overly negative which wasn't my intention as working with the Orangs and the Chimps has been a priviledge and on the whole enormous fun so far.
After the 3rd day of working with the Orang-Utans I think that both Claire and I left work feeling a little downcast.
Two thoughts persisted; one was that the work is monotonous and I can see how easy it is for the keepers to switch-off and lose interest in the apes, which is sad. The 2nd thought, now that the novelty has worn off slightly, and esp after cleaning out the cells again is that the size of the cages (approx 6ft(w) x6(d)x10(h)) is simply too small for a fully growth orang-utan (and cruelly small for two which is the case for Sulong & Salmah and Awang & Mangja).
It's the realisation that as you get to know these creatures and discover their unique personalities, their behaviour, their food likes (and dislikes) and how alike they are to us you realise that for long stretches of the week their lives are cramped and claustrophobic with little in the way of stimulation (which we're trying to help change via the brilliant Katie and Sri at WOX) and little to look forward to other than the next feeding session and some more attention from another set of european volunteers.
I think we, the volunteers, do better out of this experience than the apes - perhaps it satisfies some need to be close to nature/the apes and makes you feel like you're contributing something. I'd be interested to now see what London Zoo does differently, esp with access to greater funds. The problem is as a complete non-expert is what the hell do I know? The Orangs, which in the wild are as lazy as some of you suspect me of being, could be happy as Larry with their lives. Compared to Orangs in the wild they're in no danger (except perhaps from over-eating) and are entertained by humans (in the form of volunteers) and are given things to keep them thinking.
Come the 4th day (the 11th-Aug) some of the concerns building up over the previous days had been allayed, or at least accepted. WOX (www.w-o-x.com) are doing a tough job well here.
Trying to change the way the zoo works (and not just with the Orang-Utans and the Chimps) is a long-term exercise. The powers that be at the zoo don't adapt to change quickly and there's an entrenched and risk-adverse culture that means that suggestions made by WOX (and the volunteers on their programmes) have to be diplomatic, patient and play the hierarchy game to get things done. And things are getting done. Rotation of the the apes - as in which ones are caged and which ones are out - now happens more frequently, there are more things for the apes to do, providing mental stimulation and volunteers at the Ape Centre are now more readily accepted.
Getting back to the title of this specific blog - beaten by a 9 yr old. Claire along with some of the other volunteers stitched together some Hessian sacks containing seeds. These were given to Choky - a 9yr old male Bornean Orang-Utan. Choky eventually ripped his way to the seeds leaving the hessian sacks to firstly be worn as a hat and then to be used as something to play tug-of-war with. Now I have to point out that this was Choky's idea not mine. It was he who pushed the remnants of sack thru' the cage. Okay, it was me that grabbed the sack and tugged but it was Choky that tugged back turn this interaction into a competition.
Round 1 went quickly Choky's way as he reached thru' the cage with a spare hand/foot grabbed for my hand forcing me to concede. Round 2 went my way after I turned to the dark arts and tickled Choky's foot thus making him lose leverage on the cage - this wasn't taken with much grace. My punishment for such underhand tactics was to be spat upon by the petulant Choky. Round 3 went to Choky due to raw strength and another grab for my hand. Choky seemed happy with his win.
He isn't the only one that spits. Katy shares her cage with Punky who is docile and very sweet. Katy, if she doesn't get enough attention or fed quickly enough, will spit at you so it takes some control to ensure that Punky doesn't lose out to Katy's attention-seeking antics.
Off to spend a few days in George Town, Penang now that we have 4 days off and then back to the apes for one more week in the zoo before heading off to Borneo.
