Orangutan Thoroughly Washed Her Hands After Seeing Her Human Caretakers Wash Their Hands

May 22, 2020 by apost team

Almost everyone is aware of the importance of careful hand-washing. In addition to basic hygiene, we've been reminded of how vital it is to wash thoroughly and to scrub carefully. An orangutan in Florida has noticed this, and has followed the example she's seen in her caregivers. In a video filmed in November of 2019, Sandra the orangutan is seen washing her hands more carefully than usual. In doing so, she's providing everyone else a great example to follow.

Through billboards, posters, TV commercials, internet pop-up ads, store announcements, and more, we're informed that it's vital to our health to keep up the extra-careful hand-washing procedures, and for at least 20 seconds per wash. We're encouraged to take full advantage of the germ-killing, grease-cutting, hand-sanitizing products we have. It's a simple way we can keep ourselves and others safe.

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At the Center For Great Apes in Florida, Sandra the orangutan has noticed the careful attention that the humans are giving to their hand-washing routines. Sandra has not only watched, but she's learned. Sandra was recently filmed washing her hands as humans do, and she seems to have learned well. She also seems to be a great example to follow!

Sitting in her comfortable habitat, Sandra and her blue soapy-water bucket have gained quite a bit of attention. The popular video of Sandra's hand-washing has been watched over and over. Sandra the orangutan washes her hands carefully and well—for more than 20 seconds! The CDC would be pleased, and Sandra's fans certainly are!

Armed with her own scrub brush, Sandra carefully washes each hand. Both sides of each hand. Each finger! She turns each hand over, looks at her fingernails, and scrubs each side of each hand. She does all this very simply, without fanfare, as if it's the most normal thing in the world.

According to Sandra's bio, she was born at Rostock Zoo in Germany more than 30 years ago. She spent much of her life at the Buenos Aires Zoo in Argentina. Sandra now resides at the Center for Great Apes, a sanctuary for orangutans and chimpanzees. Many of these apes have been rescued or retired from difficult lives. The great apes are given permanent, safe, healthy homes in the sanctuary.

Sandra's former life seems to have involved some loneliness as she lived alone at the Buenos Aires Zoo for many of her years there. However, at the Center for Great Apes, the sanctuary promises an enriching life for the apes who live there. It seems that Sandra is continuing to grow and learn from her surroundings and her caregivers. Her attention to hand-washing routines seems to indicate how smart and interested Sandra is.

So, what do you think? Isn't it amazing to see a smart animal such as Sandra learn to follow healthy routines? Aren't you proud of her caregivers who have demonstrated safe procedures for Sandra? Let us know what you think, and let someone else know, too!