SINTA

In the morning, while the animal keepers are cleaning her cage, Sinta often displays playful and curious behavior toward their activities. She frequently uses the water tap inside her cage to tease the keepers. After turning on the tap and letting the water flow, Sinta directs the stream with her hands toward the keepers working below her, as if deliberately trying to splash them with water.

Sinta appears skilled and deliberate in how she aims the water, indicating that her behavior is not accidental but rather a form of intentional and playful interaction. She also sometimes uses tree branches found inside her cage to poke keepers who get too close to the cage walls. Because of this, the animal keepers have learned to be more cautious and keep a safe distance when cleaning Sinta’s cage. She exhibits similar behavior toward anyone passing in front of her cage—Sinta will reach her hand through the bars, trying to touch or poke people walking by.

In addition, Sinta has a habit of collecting salak (snake fruit) seeds after finishing her meals. Once she has gathered enough, she throws the seeds toward keepers walking near her cage. Sometimes, she also throws other food remains, such as fruit peels or coconut pieces, as part of her playful or reactive behavior toward human presence nearby.

During feeding time, Sinta shows calm and focused eating behavior. She eats her food attentively, savoring each bite. Meanwhile, her daughter Sabine, who often clings to her back, shows a different kind of curiosity. Sabine is often intrigued by the animal keepers near the cage and has been seen reaching her hands out toward them, seemingly inviting play or attempting to interact.

Sinta also demonstrates impressive tool-use skills. She has been observed using a stick to retrieve fruit that had fallen out of her reach. With patience, she worked the stick through the cage bars and slowly pushes the fruit closer until it’s within reach. Once the fruit is close enough, Sinta grabs it with her hand and eats it. This behavior highlights her high intelligence, fine motor skills, and strong problem-solving ability, as she effectively uses objects around her to achieve her goals.

Overall, Sinta’s behavior reflects a combination of intelligence, curiosity, and complex social awareness. At the same time, Sabine is beginning to show signs of healthy behavioral development, demonstrated through her growing curiosity and interest in interacting with her surroundings.