At the Moscow Zoo, visitors were asked to bring new blankets and oversized items for primates

About the collection, TASS was told by Tatyana Mushtakova, head of the section of great apes in the “Primates” department of the Moscow Zoo. According to her, Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, lowland gorillas, as well as capuchins and monkeys are especially drawn to textiles.

Mushtakova explained that the animals play with the items and find different uses for them. The zoo gave examples: primates try on clothes, wash laundry, and use fabric to clean the windows in their enclosures.

Visitors are advised to bring blankets, thick bedding, large items, and, if possible, oversized clothing. According to the zoo employee, primates especially like large terry towels, and knitted blankets they can unravel into threads.

The zoo accepts only new and clean items because sanitary and hygiene standards for keeping animals require it. Mushtakova also noted that adult female orangutans Chapa and Chava especially like oversized T-shirts and nightgowns, while the other orangutans and gorillas prefer towels, blankets, and bedspreads.

Keepers use clothing and fabric as a reward for a training session well completed. For the animals, this is a consumable material that is constantly needed for everyday work in the “Primates” pavilion.

Sources

• TASS