Pairi Daiza is a private zoo in Belgium. They have a group of critically endangered orangutans who appeared to enjoy showing off for visitors and engaging with humans. But then the zoo closed during the pandemic. While the zookeepers engaged with the apes as much as they could, the orangutans got bored and seemingly lonely without the bustling crowds. What to do? Let the animals entertain each other! The zoo brought their colony of river otters in to the orangutan enclosure.
Well, who doesn't love to watch otters playing? The orangutans were delighted, and immediately became friends with their energetic new "pets." Permanent friends, as it turned out. The zoo is experimenting with introducing other different species to each other for entertainment and affection.
#orangutan #otter #interspeciesfriendship