Jungle Island uses new technology with orangutans

MIAMI (WSVN) -- Orangutans at a South Florida zoo are using new technology to communicate with people and other animals.

Jungle Island on Watson Island is using iPads as a way of stimulating their six orangutans.

Peanut the orangutan is like most humans her age, as she loves the iPad. The primates are told to match a picture with what caregiver Linda Jacobs tell them. "We use the iPad because it gives them a voice. They don't have vocal cords or voice boxes," said Linda.

A researcher, first used the iPad with dolphins, then suggested Jungle Island use it with their orangutans.

Jacobs said, the younger orangutans like peanut, are more interested in the iPad and anticipates one day soon she will be able to ask the animals what they want to eat through the device. "Right now, it is about building their vocabulary, and the next step is we want to have all the different vegetables that are available for lunch that day, and then ask them, 'What would you like for lunch that day?'" said Linda.

Jacobs and Jungle Island are hoping the iPad bridges the gap between humans and the orangutans to show visitors just how intelligent they really are.

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