The first time we offered the orangutans their essential oils we placed a few drops on a clean rag (each oil had its own rag).  Then we handed them the rag to the orangutans and if they liked it they would sniff it for long periods of time or lick the rag. Sally, one of the orangutans, when she really liked an oil she would place the rag with the oil on it in her mouth, fill her mouth up with water and proceed to suck the oil out of the rag, it was fascinating.  If they did not like the oil they would hand us the rag back.  One night Sally gathered all the rags and placed them in her nest and slept with them.  I thought of using the rags because I was afraid they would try to snatch the bottles out of our hands. The head zookeeper thought it was a great idea as our initial approach. 

After a few days of working with the oils and the orangutans, the zookeeper's were comfortable with the process and just showed them the oils bottle by bottle.  This proved to work quit well except they had to be extra careful with Mia's as once he grabbed a bottle once, pulled out the plunger, drank the contents and handed the bottle back as if to be asking for more.  All of the orangutans were very responsive to the process. They would smell the oil and then hold out their finger, some drops were applied and they would ether lick it off or apply to their forehead, chest, arms, nose. Sometimes they would stick their chests out and want it rubbed in. Or they would stick their lips out and want it applied there. They were very clear on what oil they wanted and where they wanted it.  If they were not interested in the oil they would turn their heads away or walk away.

The Gorillas were completely different. When we went to hand them a rag with an oil on it they acted appeared insulted and would not even touch the rag. So we had to improvise here, I suggested we take some of their food pellets and apply it to them. This work perfectly, and, if they did not like the oil they would throw the pellet of food back at us. If they liked the oils they would ingest the pellet, or just smell it and go back to it and smell it again. When we worked with Koundo, the largest silver back gorilla in captivity, he was not impressed with the pellets. So I asked what his favorite snack was and his was leaves.   So we took some leaves applied some oil to a leaf and if he liked it he would eat it, just sniff it, or place it next to him.  If he did not like it he handed it back.   After the zookeeper became more comfortable she would work with the bottles also, unless it was a aggressive gorilla she would still use the food.

The problem the zookeeper wanted to address with Robin is that human females can cause him to become sexually aroused and this causes him to be rough with Sally (his mate).  He will drag her around and forcefully copulate with her.  Females on the public side or female keepers that are not regularly in his building trigger this behavior. Robin first selected essential oils: Jasmine, Melissa, Frankincense, Vetiver, Rose Otto, Vanilla, Rosemary Verbenon and Geranium. 

Two months later he selected: Jasmine, Melissa, Frankincense, Vetiver, Rose Otto,  Basil, Sweet Marjoram, Angelica Root and Grapefruit.

Robin is having success with the oils.  He has calmed down a great deal.  He sometimes gets excited and goes after Sally, but these episodes are very infrequent now. The zookeeper is pleased with the progress Robin is making.

Allie lost her mother just over a year ago.  She became seriously ill 3 months after her mother died.  She underwent many test and observations by doctors, which caused her to distrust unfamiliar humans.  Before her illness she loved everybody, what the zookeeper wanted to accomplish with Alllie and the oils was to ease her pain, distrust of humans and bring her old personality back.  I felt she needed her immune system boosted from what I was told about her illness. Oils selected: Rose, Yarrow, Bergamot, & Melissa

Allie has had great success with her oils. Many people have commented on how she seems like her old self.  She is very playful and not depressed.  Her zookeeper is very pleased with the results.