Cinta the Orangutan
Posted at 9:19 am January 9, 2006 by Kim Livingstone
Cinta the “baby” Sumatran orangutan is growing up! He will be two years old on March 5, 2006. Cinta and his mother, Indah, now have a lot more space inside since Violet’s move to the Honolulu Zoo. Cinta is now eating his favorite food items, such as grapes, bananas, and soaked leaf-eater biscuits, in the second bedroom away from his mother. He has no problem leaving Indah to run into the training chute for weighing and a short training session with his new keeper, Yvette. Today he weighed in at a healthy 19 pounds (8.6 kilograms)!
In the mornings the orangutans are given access to visit with their siamang exhibit mates through a mesh introduction panel. Both the orangutans and the siamangs seem to enjoy this time for interaction. However, the relaxing atmosphere is much different when Indah and Cinta have been on exhibit with the siamangs. The adult male, Unkie, becomes aggressive and has bitten Cinta on the foot. His wounds have since healed and he is holding no grudge towards Unkie during his morning visitations. So until Cinta grows up enough that he does not have to rely on his mother for protection, we will not be exhibiting these individuals together.
Indah and Cinta can be seen inside their Absolutely Apes exhibit from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. daily. On most days Indah will carry Cinta up into the climbing structure. Shortly thereafter, Cinta can be seen leaving his mother to seek out one of his favorite orangutans, Josephine. Just this past week I saw him running to her and jumping into her lap. Josephine seems to enjoy her time with Cinta, acting like a proud auntie. Cinta can also be seen climbing the bamboo poles up near the viewing glass. He is usually interacting with his buddies, Karen and Satu. He is growing up to be a very playful and curious orangutan. His mother, Indah, who was always known for rarely coming down to the viewing window, has been seen recently doing just that. She can also be seen hanging upside down from the bamboo poles.
Every day I see Cinta doing things that I didn’t see the day before. He continues to explore and interact with the other orangutans, spending more and more time away from his mother. Don’t be fooled though. Indah is aware of his every move and ours too! Come by and enjoy these wonderful and intelligent animals. They will continually amaze you!
Kim Livingstone is the team area lead for Heart of the Zoo at the San Diego Zoo.
Watch the orangutans and siamangs on Ape Cam.
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January 9th, 2006 at 10:19 am
Thank you, Kim, for the news! I had no idea that Violet had been transferred to a different zoo; I hope she does well. Cinta is too cute!
January 9th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
Thanks you, Kim, for the great information. I’m sorry to say that I don’t know much about orangutans. Can you please give us some info on them. Like, how long does a baby (or little one) stay with their mother? I was a little surpised to read that this little guy is almost 2 and still so close to his mommy. As long as they’re both in the same facility (zoo), will mom and child always be close? How old is an orangutan before they’re considered full-grown? Where is Cinta’s daddy? Thanks for any insight you can give those of us who are orangutan challenged, and keep up the great work you and everyone at the SDZ does for all the wonderful animals.
Editor’s note: You can read some great basic orangutan information in our Animal Bytes section.
January 10th, 2006 at 4:35 am
Aw I didn’t know that Violet had already left either. I hope she enjoys Hawaii though.
I read the Orangutan page and I’ve seen how they can use a twig to get into termite holes, just like SDZ described. These animals are sooo smart!
January 10th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
Thank you so much for the update, Kim. I’ll be so happy when Cinta will be able to interact fully with the siamangs! For zoophiles who are concerned about Violet, you can find loads of information and pictures about her and Rusti on the Honolulu Zoo website, including front-page newpaper articles. She is a real VIP in Honolulu, and her new friend, Rusti, is really handsome! My niece who lives there can’t wait until Violet’s quarantine is over and she and Rusti can finally be together.
January 12th, 2006 at 5:56 pm
I must say that I could stand in front of the Absolutely Apes exhibit for hours and never, ever get bored. My husband and I love to watch all of their antics. We’ve watched Cinta grow up, and we are thoroughly enchanted by him. We adore all of the orangs, and we always stop to see them twice every visit…once in the morning and once on the way out (I love showing the contents of my purse to Janey!). This has to be one of the greatest exhibits in the country. Thank you for all the good work!
January 16th, 2006 at 4:52 pm
I went to the zoo this last weekend; our main objective was to go and see Little Su Lin… so we saw her, she was cute and everything.. but we stopped at the Orangutan exhibit.. we were really impressed by the cuteness, intelligence and how fun these animals can be. I love them. I think it was Satu who was following Clyde all over the place.. not walking, but rolling! =).. so cute.. rolling around and sitting closely by Clyde, being “shy” and looking at the visitors through the glass. I really want to go and see them again. Thanks!!
January 26th, 2006 at 11:08 am
What a great informative and interesting article, Kim. We are great fans of the SDZ and,
in particular of the primates. You are a terrific keeper and so knowledgeable. We always enjoy listening to your stories about the orangutans and apes when we visit. You are a joy and pleasure. Hope you never leave the zoo. We’d miss you terribly.
February 3rd, 2006 at 7:23 am
When it is morning in Maine, all the animals seem to be still asleep in San Diego and that made me wonder where the orangutans sleep? In the trees? In the cave/den that I can see? If they sleep in the den, do you know if they all sleep together or apart? And when one wakes up and heads out, do they all? I am very curious…thanks.
February 8th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
I just returned from the Honolulu Zoo and I assure you that Rusti and Violet are very happy together. They are extremely compatible! Their enclosure is fabulous, enormous, and includes a very large banyan tree, four large hamocks made from old fire hoses and two bedrooms, or sleeping quarters…Orangutan Foundation International donated most of the funds for it and owns Rusti.
Their story was on the front page of two Honolulu papers on Saturday morning.
September 13th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
thanks but do u have any thing about just Indah?
Editor’s note: Yvette wrote a blog about Indah and Cinta, “Orangutan Exercises,” dated April 26, 2006.