Donated Bulk Aggregate Bags Used for Orangutan Enrichment at Twycross Zoo

By Kim Riley

Atherstone, UK - A local builders merchant has found a new use for its bulk aggregate bags. Bailey Buildbase in Weddington Road, Nuneaton, has donated some of the jumbo bags to Twycross Zoo for the entertainment of its four Bornean orang utans.

“We had supplied some building materials to the zoo including some sand which was delivered in jumbo bulk bags as usual,” says Dave Adams, manager at Buildbase’s Nuneaton branch. “We noticed with amazement that the empty sacks were a favourite plaything for the orang utans. They climbed into them and hid, took them up into the branches and sat in them. We could see how much fun they were having that we’re happy to give the sacks to the zoo from time to time when they’re worn out.”

Twycross Zoo in Burton Road, Atherstone, has four Bornean orang utans, an endangered species in the wild. Batu, aged 20, has been at the zoo for 14 years, Kibriah, 32 years, and Miri, 5, were both born at the zoo. Malika, 16, came from Chester Zoo some 10 years ago.

Tanya Clayton, deputy section head of Asian apes at Twycross Zoo, said: “They may have taken a liking to the large sacks because of the size and they like to play underneath them. Miri and Maliku will play under them and Batu will use it as a cloak. Maliku uses the sacks as a hammock-like hanging chair.

“They all use the sacks like a huge shopping bag and put lots of bark and grass in them. They’ll bring all the items inside, empty the contents and start all over again!

“Our family of orang utans at Twycross Zoo get a lot of enjoyment from the sacks and it’s an ideal opportunity to recycle them. The orangs will keep the sacks and play, carry and hide in them until they’re almost thread-bare.”

Bornean orang utans (pongo pygmaeus) are the largest tree-living apes. They have distinctive long red hair all over their bodies. The mature male has distinctive large flanges (cheek pads) and a throat pouch. Both sexes have extremely long arms which they use for swinging through the trees. They are omnivorous with most of their diet consisting of fruit and leaves although they will take insects such as termites and small vertebrates like frogs. A mature female will only breed every six years, giving her a maximum of four to five young per life-time. This is one of the reasons they are declining in the wild.

To view Twycross Zoo's web page on Zoo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-712-Twycross_zoo