She is a captive bred Sumatran orangutan. He is a
neuroscientist specialising in cognitive and sensory systems research. With the
help of specially adapted eye tracking equipment they are hoping to explain
some of the mysteries of the visual brain and improve the lives of captive bred
animals.
Dr Neil Mennie, from The University of Nottingham Malaysia
Campus (UNMC), has received funding from Ministry of Science and Technology and
Innovation, Malaysia (MOSTI) to study the eye movements of Tsunami — a seven
year old orangutan at The National Zoo of Malaysia (Zoo Negara). Not only will
Dr Mennie’s research address vital questions about the visual cognition of
humans and apes in natural tasks, it will also provide valuable enrichment for
the juvenile captive-born orangutan.