Zookeepers across the United States and Canada are experimenting
a new program with orangutans. It has been discovered that the
apes are very fond of iPads. 12 zoos across the nation are
currently involved with the program which give orangutans
enrichment time with the tablet, twice a week. The time varies
based on the attention span of the ape but it generally ranges
from 15 minutes to a half an hour. Generally, orangutans enjoy
interactive children apps based on painting, music and memory
games. Zookeepers hope the iPads could help to break barriers of
communication with orangutans, similar to how communication apps
assist with the autistic. Orangutan Outreach, the New York City-
based non-profit that runs the program was founded by Richard
Zimmerman. Zimmerman told Reuters in an interview: "Let's say an
orangutan has a toothache. He or she would be able to then tap
on the iPad on a picture of a tooth and communicate it that
way". The program is planning to expand to zoos of other nations
like Japan and New