Video: Crowd enjoys Cameron Park Zoo’s new Asian Forest exhibit
By Anita Pere Tribune-Herald staff writer
Source: wacotrib.com
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Orangutans drank 7UP and ate vegetables out of pizza boxes Saturday, the opening day of Cameron Park Zoo’s Asian Forest exhibit.
Zoo membership coordinator Diane Jordan said the exhibit, highlighted by three orangutans and a Komodo dragon, drew visitors from Dallas, Austin and even Kansas.
“Everybody wanted to see the new exhibit. . . . It’s been a good day,” Jordan said.
The personable orangutans seemed to be a favorite of zoo visitors.
Debbie Banks was amused when Kerajaan, one of the orangutans, put a burlap sack on his head, saying it reminded her of similar games her baby plays.
Mukah, an orangutan who came to Waco from a zoo in Madison, Wis., loves to show off for humans.
“He’s very much a ham. He wants to be where the people are,” primate keeper Rachel Huber said while Mukah returned an onlooker’s gaze.
Unlike most orangutans, he makes eye contact with humans. He also loves to watch football.
“Maybe he’ll pick the (fantasy football) teams for us,” Huber said.
The other orangutans, Kerajaan and Mei, also like to watch TV.
The orangutans’ other hobbies include leafing through phone books with raisins sprinkled between the pages, then ripping up the books when they’re done looking at them.
Many visitors wanted to see an orangutan push a button that sprays water on zoogoers, but none of them had mastered the button Saturday.
Ashley Anderson came with her sons and other family members to see the exhibit.
“I think it’s real pretty,” she said. “The boys are loving it.”
John Abney came to see Neoma, the Komodo dragon, but said she was smaller than he expected. At almost two years old, she’s 3 1/2 feet long. She’s expected to grow to about 8 feet long and 150 pounds.
The zoo’s gift shop was busy most of the day, said Randall Grindle, a sales associate in the shop.
Merchandise featuring orangutans and Komodo dragons were hot items, he said.
