So, that orangutan story...
Jul. 15th, 2011 06:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dolariEleven has been in Seattle for about two weeks now (I saw her off early this morning), and while we didn't have much time (I was working, she was visiting), we tried to make the most of what we had. One of those things, specifically asked for, was a trip to the zoo.
Eleven had mentioned to me that she'd wanted to go because she'd often visit the male orangutan and just sit and play with his through the glass. He'd recognize her, come up to the window, play games, make faces. While I didn't disbelieve her, I figured "Well, he's just coming up to play with someone, anyone, who comes up to the window."
So we went to the zoo, found the orangutan enclousure, and looked for him. We couldnt' find him at first, just his sister eating some citrus fruit, and almost gave up, when we saw him in a clearing far far far away. Eleven sat down at the window and watched him.
Eventually, we caught his gaze and, curious, ambled up to a little tree barrier, where he could watch us, while he was protected. And then, he got this excited look on his face, and came up as fast as his knuckles could get him to the window. He plopped down in fron of her, put his handt up to the window (which she did as well) and have this look of "Where have you been? I've missed you!" It'd been several years since she visited.
They spent only a little time together, but eventually the crowds became too much for Eleven, so we left, and the orgautan (whose name is Towan, we found out later), was left with crowd. We saw a few more visits, and Eleven was feeling kind of down that they didn't spend much time there, because of the crowd, and we went back.
This time, the crowds weren't there, and she sat down in front of the window again. Towan came ambling back up again, and this time they spent some good quality time together, making faces at each other, playing hand games. He made moves like he wanted to hug her, too, even though the window was in the way. It was really truly amazing to see.
Towan didn't seems to like me much - I was butting in on his relationship with Eleven. He also seemed to not like cameras. While I got a few pictures when he wsn't looking, when he notcied my camera, he immediately hid behind her. The flashes probably startle him. Considering he didn't seem too fond of the newcomer, I hung back and watched. It was amazing to see the kind of interaction they were having.
Eventually, the crowds came back, and this time Eleven stuck at the window. But as more people thronged to see this, Towan eventually decided he didn't want to be there. And watching him go away was kind of heartbreaking. He walked away about ten feet, then looked back at Eleven with this sad look. Then another five, and then a look back, and finally he walked back into the center of the enclosure. As Eleven called it: "It was a Minnesota goodbye."
It was really one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen before. :)
Eleven had mentioned to me that she'd wanted to go because she'd often visit the male orangutan and just sit and play with his through the glass. He'd recognize her, come up to the window, play games, make faces. While I didn't disbelieve her, I figured "Well, he's just coming up to play with someone, anyone, who comes up to the window."
So we went to the zoo, found the orangutan enclousure, and looked for him. We couldnt' find him at first, just his sister eating some citrus fruit, and almost gave up, when we saw him in a clearing far far far away. Eleven sat down at the window and watched him.
Eventually, we caught his gaze and, curious, ambled up to a little tree barrier, where he could watch us, while he was protected. And then, he got this excited look on his face, and came up as fast as his knuckles could get him to the window. He plopped down in fron of her, put his handt up to the window (which she did as well) and have this look of "Where have you been? I've missed you!" It'd been several years since she visited.
They spent only a little time together, but eventually the crowds became too much for Eleven, so we left, and the orgautan (whose name is Towan, we found out later), was left with crowd. We saw a few more visits, and Eleven was feeling kind of down that they didn't spend much time there, because of the crowd, and we went back.
This time, the crowds weren't there, and she sat down in front of the window again. Towan came ambling back up again, and this time they spent some good quality time together, making faces at each other, playing hand games. He made moves like he wanted to hug her, too, even though the window was in the way. It was really truly amazing to see.
Towan didn't seems to like me much - I was butting in on his relationship with Eleven. He also seemed to not like cameras. While I got a few pictures when he wsn't looking, when he notcied my camera, he immediately hid behind her. The flashes probably startle him. Considering he didn't seem too fond of the newcomer, I hung back and watched. It was amazing to see the kind of interaction they were having.
Eventually, the crowds came back, and this time Eleven stuck at the window. But as more people thronged to see this, Towan eventually decided he didn't want to be there. And watching him go away was kind of heartbreaking. He walked away about ten feet, then looked back at Eleven with this sad look. Then another five, and then a look back, and finally he walked back into the center of the enclosure. As Eleven called it: "It was a Minnesota goodbye."
It was really one of the most amazing things I'd ever seen before. :)
