Orangutans in Columbus

I visited the Columbus Zoo's Bornean orangutans October 1, 2024.

Dumplin was separated from Clementine and Khali.

 

Or was she?

A docent who was there explained that there is a similar grid inside, and Dumplin weaves fabric through it. She has not done that outside, though.

Khali has a lock!

(This reminded me of an orangutan in a zoo that hid a key in his mouth and used it to open a door. My memory was faulty in that there was no key, which makes the story even better. Read or listen to RadioLab.) 

It appears that kind of lock is used to secure things in the enclosure. In the first photo, one of these locks attaches the green cloth to the grid. An orangutan could probably detach a hook or carabiner easily.

Clementine: "Look at me, Mom!"

More Baby Langurs

The Columbus Zoo seems to have a successful breeding program for silvered langurs. There have been one or two babies every year for the last several years.

The babies are orange at first.

Kids sometimes want to go exploring on their own.

Who needs a vine when there's a tail?

The langurs are good photographic subjects, which is why I've posted about them a few times already. There is often something going on, such as eating or watching mice, and babies are fun. Often, there are two groups: A bachelor group and a group of mothers, babies, and youngsters. They're indoors in winter, and the glass is not annoyingly reflective. The lighting is good, depending on where the monkeys are in the enclosure.

More baby silvered leaf langur

A silvered leaf langur was born at the Columbus Zoo January 23. These photos are from February 25. (My previous visit was February 11.)

Baby silvered leaf langur

A silvered leaf langur was born at the Columbus Zoo January 23. The neat thing about a baby silvered leaf langur is that it's orange even though adults are gray and black. I visited February 11.

Mom Daria holds her baby. That's a tail to be proud of!

Ah, there's the newborn!

Some cuddle time

One step was a tough climb.

Other members of the troop lend a hand(?). The two gray langurs were born last year.

The third juvenile gets in on the action. It seemed rough, but the baby was okay and mom didn't seem to mind.

Phoebe's new girl

Phoebe, an Asian elephant, gave birth to a girl December 6th, and mom and daughter are already spending some time on exhibit. I'm sure the Columbus Zoo has excellent photos, and there is video, but here are my shots from today.

Five-day-old baby, with mom's trunk

Phoebe and daughter

Phoebe keeps the baby pretty-well covered in straw and wood shavings.