Orangutans at a Milwaukee zoo could be getting wi-fi access so they can use their iPads to link up with other orangutans in distant zoos.

Yes you did read all of that correctly.

Firstly the Milwaukee orangutans have been using iPads quite happily now for the past eight months.

Conservationist Richard Zimmerman, from the US-based charity Orangutan Outreach,  said the apes are fascinated by their iPads and use them to play the drawing game Doodle Buddy, do paintings and watch videos.

Mr Zimmerman said the idea was to provide a bit of fun for the animals at Milwaukee County Zoo and said they particularly enjoy watching wildlife programs, especially those featuring other orangutans.

He told the BBC:

“They love moving images. They love bright things. They like to be entertained.

“They love new things, so one of the first things we’re going to do to incorporate that is make sure the facilities have wi-fi capabilities so that the orangutans can actually have access to unlimited information – of course with the keepers guiding them.”

He said the most exciting aspect of all was watching how the animals reacted to seeing themselves, and other apes on screen.

“The orangutans loved seeing videos of themselves – so there is a little vanity going on – and they like seeing videos of the orangutans who are in the other end of the enclosure.

“So if we incorporate cameras, they can watch each other.”

Source: BBC News Online.

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