Primates go ape over ‘Tinder for orangutans’
ZOOKEEPERS have revealed a new ape couple are part of a scientific study dubbed “Tinder for orangutans” which is pioneering mating by video date.
Staff at Dublin Zoo have told how they employed 21st century methods for humans to play matchmaker for their latest primate pairing.
While humans can swipe left or right, the zoo is part of a four-year study carried out by scientists at the Apenheul primate park in the Netherlands who are hoping to increase the chances of successful breeding by giving the apes a virtual look at possible mates.
RTE’S hugely popular series The Zoo shows how huge TV screens showing footage of a female orangutan from Barcelona Zoo called Sari were beamed to 39-year-old Sibu in his enclosure in Dublin Zoo before her arrival. The large ape in Dublin Zoo is seen gazing intently, clapping his hands together at the first sight of the female on the screen, fixing his hair and even putting his hands up to get her attention on the video date. Dublin Zoo team leader Ciaran Mcmahon said: “I think it’s a study that is well worth looking at and well worth pursuing. “I know there is the fun side of it, ‘Tinder for orangutans’, but that’s exactly what it is. “The unfortunate thing is they can’t talk so we have to read the body language to how he reacts to females.” The Zoo is on RTE One tonight at 7.30pm.