VOA慢速英语:Now on the iPad: Apps for Orangutans

[00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, [00:02.28]this is the TECHNOLOGY REPORT in Special English. [00:07.20]Humans are not the only ones who like to use tablet computers. [00:12.88]The nonprofit organization Orangutan Outreach [00:17.35]has started a program called Apps for Apes using Apple's iPad. [00:23.09]Orangutan Outreach was started by Richard Zimmerman [00:27.36]and is based in New York City. [00:29.87]He began the organization six years ago [00:33.63]with the goal of protecting orangutans in the wild. [00:37.75]The organization started Apps for Apes one year ago. [00:43.77]The program introduces the Apple iPad to orangutans in zoos. [00:50.68]Apps for Apes has three goals. [00:53.33]The first goal is to provide interesting activities [00:57.56]for captive orangutans. [01:00.02]The second goal is to raise awareness [01:03.49]among zoo visitors about how smart these animals are. [01:08.03]The third goal is to urge people [01:11.90]to visit Orangutan Outreach's website, redapes.org, [01:18.68]to learn how they can help protect orangutans in the wild. [01:23.24]Orangutan Outreach says the iPad is a perfect device [01:29.12]for the animal because of the touchscreen technology. [01:32.72]With some assistance, the orangutans [01:36.69]are able to use different apps to listen to music, [01:41.13]play games and do other activities. [01:44.11]Mr. Zimmerman describes what has been reported by zoos [01:49.22]on the reaction of the apes to seeing and using the tablets. [01:54.32]"The young orangutans are very curious, [01:56.88]and they go to it immediately. [01:59.04]The females seem to be the quickest learners. [02:02.45]Some of the big males, they're not scared, [02:06.46]but they're curious as to what this strange thing is. [02:09.73]And they spend a little time watching it from a distance." [02:14.00]Mr. Zimmerman says the program [02:16.07]could affect the behavior of orangutans, [02:19.10]but it is too early to know. [02:22.56]However, he tells us about one male orangutan named Tommy [02:27.22]at the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, zoo. [02:32.69]"First he didn't want anything to do with it. [02:35.38]But he would watch from the back of his enclosure [02:38.20]as the zoo keepers worked with the other orangutans. [02:40.96]He would gradually move closer. [02:43.42]In general, Tommy is a very shy orangutan. [02:47.23]But since the iPad has been introduced, [02:51.27]his behavior has mellowed in a way [02:54.83]and he has gotten more accustomed to being near people. [02:57.39]And he now actually likes the iPad, and he likes to use it. [03:01.03]So there's been a change in his actual personality, [03:04.51]and we think it's due to the iPad use." [03:07.41]The program was first launched at the Milwaukee County Zoo. [03:11.39]It has expanded to more than 10 other zoos [03:15.01]as well as a rescue center for apes in the United States and Canada, [03:20.08]and is growing worldwide.

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