Regurgitation/reingestion (R/R) is a behaviour, when an animal, typically shortly after eaten, regurgitates food and sometimes after further investigations, eats it again.
According to different hypotheses and opinions, it might be related to curiosity, play, a food they really like, or stress, boredom. This behaviour is sometimes observed in zoos in great apes such as orangutans, with highly variable frequencies between species and individuals. Although R/R behaviour in itself is not necessarily negative for the welfare of the individual, and can indeed be a sign of positive experience, it can develop to a form of stereotype behaviour, repeated very often leading to impairments of health.
The main aim of this student project is to shed light on which individual and environmental factors are associated with regurgitation/reingestion (R/R) behaviour in captive orangutans (focus on Borneo orangutan Pongo pygmeus and Sumatran orangutan Pongo abelii). The project is based on live observations of some individuals in zoos, together with survey filled in by orangutang caretakers all over the world. Results from the study can deepen our understanding about welfare, coping and individual differences in orangutans in captivity and can lead to adjustment in the management to achieve the best welfare we can provide to these animals. The project started in 2023 and will end in 2024, with the final report being made available here. The project coordinator is Judit Vas, any questions about the study can be directed to her at judit.vas@nmbu.no.
If you are caretaker/manager of any orangutan, you are encouraged to fill in the anonymous survey before end of February 2024 on this link: https://nettskjema.no/a/334959