Here at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, we are fortunate to care for over 10,000 animals… All with unique personalities, needs, and abilities.
Among these creatures are three incredibly-smart Bornean orangutans with distinct schedules, favorite activities, personality traits, and talents. Joining Sulango and Khali is the ever-unique Dumplin. At 49 years old, she is one of the oldest female Bornean orangutans in human care in the United States.
Dumplin was born July 21, 1974 at the Dallas Zoo. From Dallas, she moved to Mississippi's Jackson Zoo where she lived for most of her life until joining the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium family in 2013. She has been stealing our hearts with her sweet, curious, and inventive nature every day since.
She Loves Projects
When visiting the Bornean orangutans at the Columbus Zoo's Australia and The Islands region, guests will often see Dumplin laying in her favorite hammock, people-watching, or collecting sticks for one of her many projects. Chelsea Massaroni, keeper at the Zoo's Congo Expedition and Australia and The Islands regions, said, "Dumplin often has enjoys a long list of projects. She can frequently be seen gathering up enrichment items into piles and arranging them in certain ways, and she seems to enjoy weaving and tying knots with different fabrics." When her creation is complete, she will often use PVC pieces to hammer and secure her knots in place. "Weaving is not something all orangutans do. It is a learned behavior and can be considered a unique aspect of orangutan culture," Massaroni said. While it may not be obvious to her keepers what Dumplin's end goal is when engaged in a project, Dumplin considers her projects to be top priority. She takes time to make sure her affairs are in order before engaging in training sessions with keepers.
She's Tech-Savvy
In addition to creating unique art pieces by weaving and knot-tying, Dumplin is also quite tech-savvy.
All three Bornean orangutans at the Zoo have learned to interact with a WildThink vending machine. This machine requires the orangutans to collect special tokens, place them in the machine, and receive a snack in return. The coins are given to them by keepers or hidden around their habitats and amongst enrichment puzzles. While Sulango and Khali often monopolize the machine, Dumplin bides her time and waits patiently to cash in her tokens when the others are busy. Patience always pays off, as her keepers will also allow her some solo time to enjoy it unbothered, as well.
She's an Amazing Advocate for her Species
Dumplin's intelligence also enhances the ways in which our Animal Health team can care for her. Her Care team considers Dumplin's ability to participate in voluntary blood draws one of their biggest training successes to date. These blood draws are crucial in that they provide our veterinary staff with extremely valuable information without the need for sedation. "Voluntary blood draws can take a lot of time to train and require large amounts of trust between the animal and Care staff," Massaroni said. "Two of Dumplin's favorite things are tasty treats and attention, and blood draw sessions come equipped with both, making these sessions engaging for all involved." Throughout her years with us here at the Columbus Zoo, Dumplin has also participated in many other training sessions that provide her Care team with the ability to monitor her health as she ages. These include voluntary ECG scans, blood pressure checks, vaccinations, and drug administration when it is time for a full checkup.
Thank you for being you, Dumplin! We are truly lucky to have such a kind and intelligent animal as part of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium family.
