Tag: OCCQ

Orangutan of the Month: Ari

When I first met Ari, I immediately noticed that he is an incredibly handsome orangutan! However, I quickly saw that there is much more to him than meets the eye. Since he already had the nickname “Handsome Ari,” I know I was not the first person to have been charmed by his looks but after… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Ari

Orangutans of the Month: Jessica and Weyerhauser

Most of the new arrivals at Orangutan Foundation International’s (OFI) Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) are young, orphaned orangutans. The caregivers at the OCCQ take these orangutans in and raise them like they are their own children. In the wild, the bond between mother and baby orangutan is incredibly strong. This bond must be emulated at the OCCQ because it is this bond that will provide the love and support needed during an orangutan’s first few years. During this time, it is also very important that the young orangutans socialize with each other. Many orangutans have friends that they play with, but it is rare that they are inseparable. Jessica and Weyerhauser are two such rarities.

See Red

“Ewok,” the red leaf monkey infant at the Care Center There’s an old adage that says it takes a village to raise a child. Each day this phrase is put into action at OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) in Pasir Panjang. There are many people involved in raising the numerous orangutan orphans that… Continue reading See Red

OFI family unites.

Feeding a large family is never easy. But when that family includes hundreds of hungry orangutans with big appetites, ‘meal time’ becomes a daily epic adventure to provide a steady supply of the nutrients, calories and variety that are essential to raising healthy great apes. Most of the orphans that come to our Care Center… Continue reading OFI family unites.

Orangutan of the Month: Maxine

Maxine is one of the most clever orangutans I have met at the Orangutan Care Centre and Quarantine (OCCQ). One would guess that her favourite enrichment item would be a complex puzzle feeder or an intricately wrapped parcel of leaves but Maxine prefers a simple burlap sack. While other orangutans often rip apart burlap sacks,… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Maxine

Orangutan of the Month: Uttuh

I have chosen Uttuh (pronounced “oo-too”) to be Orangutan of the Month for one simple reason: her eyes. Really they are little different from the eyes of any other infant orangutan at the Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ) except for dazzling white rings that circle her irises. Her eyes are absolutely stunning. So is… Continue reading Orangutan of the Month: Uttuh

OFI’s own Enrichment Coordinator presents in Oregon

OFI at the International Conference for Environmental Enrichment This August OFI was proud to participate in the 10th International Conference for Environmental Enrichment (ICEE) hosted by the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Portland, Oregon.  Organized by The Shape of Enrichment, ICEE is an annual conference where individuals and organizations from… Continue reading OFI’s own Enrichment Coordinator presents in Oregon

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OFI at the International Conference for Environmental Enrichment

Ibu Maryanti delivering her presentation on OFI's Holistic Environmental Enrichment Program at the ICEE conference.
Ibu Maryanti delivering her presentation on OFI's Holistic Environmental Enrichment Program at the ICEE conference.

This August OFI was proud to participate in the 10th International Conference for Environmental Enrichment (ICEE) hosted by the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Portland, Oregon.  Organized by The Shape of Enrichment, ICEE is an annual conference where individuals and organizations from all corners of the globe meet to present innovative ideas and success stories in the field of animal enrichment.  OFI was represented by Ibu Maryanti, Enrichment Coordinator for OFI’s Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine (OCCQ).  Ibu Maryanti, with the help of local assistants and a team of volunteers, is responsible for enriching the lives of the 330 orangutans currently in the care of OFI.  Ibu Maryanti not only attended the conference, but also presented to the 300 attendees.  The five-day conference included over 80 presentations outlining enrichment strategies for numerous animal species from fish to mammals.

Making fern leaf parcels stuffed with bean sprouts at the Orangutan Care and Quarantine Center.
Making fern leaf parcels stuffed with bean sprouts at the Orangutan Care and Quarantine Center.

Ibu Maryanti spoke of the daily enrichment the orangutans under OFI’s care receive as part of the Holistic Environmental Enrichment Program.  OFI's orangutans receive structural enrichment items such as hammocks and swings in their sleeping enclosures.  However, it was the fern leaf parcels that were the biggest hit with conference attendees. Fresh fern leafs are collected daily at the OCCQ and wrapped around various food items such as gelatin squares, peanut butter, noodles, and soy bean sprouts.  The parcels provide the orangutans with a task to complete in order to receive the “reward”.  The fern leaves also give orangutans nesting materials to re-use in making night nests.  It is common for enrichment items to be placed into boxes or plastic containers but rarely are natural materials used that provide a strong dual function for the animal.  At the conference Ibu Maryanti's fern parcels were acknowledged as an innovative idea from “outside the box.”

Ibu Maryanti ready to give her presentation at the ICEE conference in Portland, Oregon
Ibu Maryanti ready to give her presentation at the ICEE conference in Portland, Oregon.

Ibu Maryanti was selected from many applicants to receive a scholarship to attend the conference.  Not only did this scholarship provide her with the opportunity to share OFI's work with an international audience, but also it provided the opportunity for her to travel outside of Indonesia for the very first time.  Although Ibu Maryanti had an amazing three-week international adventure, she was happy to return home to meals of rice and hot chillies. She was especially happy to return to her family.  Attending the conference sparked some great new ideas for enrichment at the OCCQ, especially for the large male orangutans who cannot be released on a daily basis. The opportunity to meet new people and make direct contacts with other professionals in her field was one of the most rewarding aspects of the conference for Ibu Maryanti.  She feels fortunate to have been awarded both the scholarship and the travel opportunity to North America and is looking forward to attending next year's ICEE in the Philippines.

Ibu Maryanti (back row, second from left) with ICEE conference colleagues

Ibu Maryanti gives much credit to the dedicated enrichment volunteers for the success of OFI's enrichment program.  She also acknowledges the generous donations from OFI members and supporters for their contributions.  Ibu Maryanti truly loves her job and the orangutans she works with every day.  Enrichment is vital to the rehabilitation process and to the daily lives of all animals, not just orangutans.  If you are interested in donating to the OFI's Holistic Environmental Enrichment Program, please visit our Amazon.com Wish List to donate enrichment items and medical supplies.
Learn more about the International Conference on Environmental Enrichment by visiting The Shape of Enrichment's website at www.enrichment.org.

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