Bruno the Orangutan at Los Angeles Zoo Predicts Texas Longhorns as BCS Champs

By Elizabeth Leider

Los Angeles, CA - On Wednesday, January 6, 2010, the Los Angeles Zoo’s male orangutan, Bruno, chose the University of Texas to win college football’s BCS National Championship.

Animal keepers placed two treat-filled papier-mâché figures, decorated as the mascots for University of Texas and the University of Alabama, in the orangutan habitat. Then the L.A. Zoo’s 30-year-old orangutan, Bruno, chose his favorite to win the 2010 National Championship by immediately picking up the Texas Longhorn mascot and placing it on the ground. Next he demolished the Alabama elephant, Big Al, before returning to the Texas Longhorn.

From Wednesday, Jan. 6 through Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, the L.A. Zoo is offering discounted admission to college football fans. Fans wearing their favorite college football team’s gear (e.g. hats, shirts, sweatshirts) just need to mention the promotion to receive a dollar off the price of Zoo admission.

Native to the Indonesia islands of Borneo and Sumatra, orangutans are the sole surviving great ape species in Asia. Orangutans are endangered. In the last 60 years, it’s estimated that there has been more than a 50 percent decline in the orangutan population. This decline is primarily due to loss of their forest habitat from agriculture and fires. The L.A. Zoo is home to six orangutans. Orangutans are considered to be one of the most intelligent zoo animals.

In the Malay language orang means person and utan means forest. Decked out in long, shaggy, orange-red hair, orangutans are the largest tree-dwelling mammals. The males are about twice the size of females, and have an arm span of over seven feet. Males have large throat pouches under their chins that are used to make calls to attract females and warn rival males to keep away. Dominate males have large cheek pads, while subordinate males in the same area don’t develop cheek pads until they find their own territory.

The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens is located in Griffith Park at the junction of the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways. Admission is $13 for adults and $8 for children ages 2 to 12. The Zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For information, call (323) 644-4200 or visit the L.A. Zoo Web site at www.lazoo.org.

To view Los Angeles Zoo's web page on ZOo and Aquarium Visitor, go to:  http://www.zandavisitor.com/forumtopicdetail-7-Los_Angeles_Zoo_&_Botanical_Gardens