Janey Exercises Her Keeper
Posted at 2:37 pm June 8, 2006 by Yvette Kemp
Yvette is writing a series of blogs about each orangutan at the San Diego Zoo. Her previous blog, about Satu, is titled The Next Orangutan Goes Out.
The orangutans in the Absolutely Apes exhibit at the San Diego Zoo exit their bedrooms one by one every morning. On their way out, they stop in a chute to participate in their morning training session. We have been releasing them and so far Indah, Cinta, Josephine, and Satu have all gone through; three are left. Today we’ll send Janey (pictured) through.
As I have mentioned previously, Janey’s room is the very last one. She has the maternity room and must go through a gated area to get to the back hallway where the rest of the bedrooms are. Some mornings she is very ready to go and tries to help the keeper open her bedroom door. Even though she thinks she’s helping, she really isn’t. I am trying to open a lock to a slider door that leads into this gated tunnel and when she pushes the door, the lock gets caught and I have to ask her to stop so I can slide the door back closed again. Usually by the second time I ask her to stop she realizes what she is doing and waits patiently.
Once the slider door is open, Janey either climbs along the gate itself to get to the other side, or she drops to the floor to investigate the drain. Because we have learned from experience, the drain cover is now locked. Janey still tests it every once in awhile, giving it a few tugs. But now there is something new: drain baskets with longer handles. Maybe today she can grab onto it. Nope… not today, so she continues into the hallway.
I’ll have all the hallway doors open before I get to her room so she can run down the hallway to the chute. Well, it isn’t really running when you’re referring to Janey. It’s more like swing scooting. I close the doors behind her as she goes until we get to the next-to-last door.
This is where Janey likes to sit and look at the siamangs. From here, their bedrooms are directly across and she likes to see what they are up to. If they are singing, she sits and enjoys the music. It does not seem to bother her at all. This is why I’ll send Janey out last if the siamangs are starting to warm up their voices. The rest of the orangutans do not enjoy being inside when the siamangs sing; they will not partake in the exercises so I have to just let them right out.
Whether the siamangs are singing or not, Janey takes the longest in the chute. She believes that if you are going to have a training session, you might as well do everything in the book. And don’t ever let her know if you are in a hurry. On those days, she feels it’s time for extra training!
Once Janey has had enough of the siamangs, she comes into the chute and stations. I close the chute door and reward her. We then go through all her behaviors: hands, feet, ears, turn around, mouth, shoulders, chest, open mouth. She sometimes has bed head, so I give her a hairbrush. She enjoys brushing her hair; she’ll sometimes even tease it. Other days I’ll file her nails; she gets a manicure and pedicure as needed.
Once I think we’ve done everything, I give Janey the rest of her reward and open the door to the exhibit. She looks at me as if to say, “What! That’s it?” “That’s all Janey; have a nice day.” If I’m lucky, she heads out to the exhibit. If not, she reaches out and points at the table behind me as if to say I forgot to give her something. “Nope, that’s all.” Slowly she leaves.
We still have Karen and Clyde and it’s almost 9 a.m. Who’s next?
Yvette Kemp is a senior mammal keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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June 9th, 2006 at 8:09 am
Yvette, I just LOVE these blogs of yours. I simply can’t wait for the next installment. You put us right there with you and that’s so great. Sweet Janey, what a card she is. Do you sometimes forget you’re working with Orangutans and think they’re just hairy people?!?!?! lol When I want a giggle, I just re-read your previous blogs and my day is brightened right up. Thanks so much and I can’t wait for the next installment.
June 9th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Thanks for another great blog, Yvette. I love that Janey enjoys the siamang “songs.” So do I, though they might be overwhelmingly loud in the bedroom corridor! It was so good talking with you the other day and also that my blog problem seems to be fixed. Looking forward to hearing about little Karen and big, sweet Clyde (who also could use a hairbrush!!).
June 9th, 2006 at 10:55 am
Janey is such a sweetie…I wish I could see her brush her hair! The way you talk about each one I feel like I know them. I can’t wait to see who goes out next.
June 9th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
Yvette, you have the best job in the whole zoo. I do love these stories and I’m glad Janey came out next so I could see her. She does a great job with her hair most days. I had no idea you did her nails. Thanks so much for another great blog . see ya soon . =)
June 10th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Hi Auntie Yveette, =) im here with uncle bill watching you on the web cam.You have one of the coolest jobs ever! I hope to see you on the fourth of July!!!!!
-Thomas
June 10th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
Thanks so much for your blogs. I LOVE them. I have to say Janey is our family favorite. My daughter packs a backpack especially for Janey. When we arrive at the zoo, my daughter will sit down and show Janey everything in her backpack. What fun they have with lipstick, bubblegum, necklaces, and shiny things. We are military but have been here for six years. I am not sure what our lives would be like without our weekly fix of orangutans. My daughter is 13 now and still loves to sit with Janey, and her younger sister (age 4) is now following in her footsteps. Your blogs make for great reading for the whole family. Thanks again!
The McElfresh family
June 11th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Again, my thanks for this delightful and informative story about these wonderful animals …. your nephew Thomas has got it right–you’ve got a great job!
June 14th, 2006 at 7:01 pm
I just adore these wonderful descriptions of orang behavior and personality traits. Janey listening to the siamangs, brushing and teasing her hair — that is priceless.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Janey is my VERY favorite of all the orangs. I know it’s probably just wishful thinking on my part, but I swear she recogizes me when we visit. Once, she was sitting with her back facing away from the front of the exhibit, and I called to her. She walked right up to the glass in front of me and sat down…as if we were going to have morning tea
We’ve been through my purse together many times. She seems to love my keys and chapstick. I love all of these amazing creatures, but there is a special place in my heart for Janey. Thanks so much for these blogs.
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:42 pm
Having auburn hair for 79 years, my family sang to me “I went to the animal fair. The birds and the beasts were there. The big baboon by the light of the moon was combing his auburn hair!
May 14th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I watched Janey one day for a long time at the SD zoo I pulled out a mirror from my make up back and she made faces at herself. She knew it was her these apes are so smart. We can learn a lot from them.
May 14th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
Janey is the smartest out of the bunch I love her