Cognitive enrichment for orangutans must match their extraordinary problem-solving capabilities. Exceptional enrichment programs demonstrate what good welfare looks like for these animals.
Orangutan cognitive enrichment must engage animals that are genuinely capable of sophisticated problem-solving, planning, and innovation. Enrichment that underestimates their capabilities provides insufficient cognitive challenge and therefore insufficient welfare benefit. The best captive orangutan programs recognize this and invest in varied, progressive, genuinely challenging enrichment that engages these animals' full capabilities. The contrast between enrichment-poor and enrichment-rich environments is visible in orangutan behavior and wellbeing indicators.