Yomiuri: Fire hoses may help save Borneo orangutans
Two animal keepers at zoos in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture hope to help extinguish the threat facing orangutans in Malaysia with a novel item--old fire hoses. Hidetoshi Kurotori, of Tama Zoological Park in Hino, western Tokyo, and Shigekazu Mizushina, at Ichikawa Zoological and Botanical Garden in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, will place lengths of used fire hoses among trees and across rivers to help orangutan bands that have become isolated in deforested areas to migrate to other forests...The idea of using fire hoses to save orangutans came first to Isabelle Lackman-Ancrenaz...she observed orangutans at the Tokyo zoo moving around in their captive space by hanging from fire hoses that were provided for them. She thought the hoses also could be introduced on Borneo, as a bridge to cross rivers and assist mobility in the forests. In February, Lackman-Ancrenaz and local researchers placed two fire hoses over the Kinabatangan River. However, the cautious orangutans did not use it, so she asked Kurotori and Mizushina for advice...According to Kurotori, it is not unusual for zoo-captive animals to play with hoses and other artificial items, but he "had never imagined it could be used in the wild." He added, "I'd be so happy if Japanese zoos' know-how can help to save orangutans"...more...
