Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We were joined at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve by the team from Higher Elevation Limited for their second build with us, creating an awesome 3D feeder for the two orangutan males at the park. This design was set to challenge both the team, and the two boys, in both building and using the device.
The device was inspired by a Hose2Habitat build guide from Houston Zoo, the mini golf puzzle feeder. The idea of the design is to really dig into the amazing tool use and problem-solving of the orangutan. There are three ways for the nuts to go through the puzzle feeder: by using sticks to push the nuts through. If the nuts go down the holes at the back (via the maze on the top), the food drops straight down the shoot into the enclosure. However, if the nuts are pushed down the central holes (a much easier option) or even to the front, the nuts drop down into a vertical maze. Once the nuts are down there, they move through the maze using sticks through the polycarbonate front, they then drop onto the shoot into the enclosure.
We added a mesh top onto the feeder to keep out the birds and prevent the public from adding their own food, however, this was where the fault in the design started.
The whole of the top of the feeder was based on the fact that the boys couldn't get their arms through the mesh, but it turns out we were very wrong, as you can see in this video. So, a week later, we went back and adapted the design by turning the mesh box around, adding some stronger mesh and a door to put the food in. And it works brilliantly!
A huge well done to the team for building the feeders, and thanks for being patient with us while we made the corrections to the design to get it to work properly.
For more information about our unique team building events, courses or enclosure design service, head to TeamBuildingwithBITE.com or email Info@TeamBuildingwithBITE.com
We were joined at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve by the team from Higher Elevation Limited for their second build with us, creating an awesome 3D feeder for the two orangutan males at the park. This design was set to challenge both the team, and the two boys, in both building and using the device.
The device was inspired by a Hose2Habitat build guide from Houston Zoo, the mini golf puzzle feeder. The idea of the design is to really dig into the amazing tool use and problem-solving of the orangutan. There are three ways for the nuts to go through the puzzle feeder: by using sticks to push the nuts through. If the nuts go down the holes at the back (via the maze on the top), the food drops straight down the shoot into the enclosure. However, if the nuts are pushed down the central holes (a much easier option) or even to the front, the nuts drop down into a vertical maze. Once the nuts are down there, they move through the maze using sticks through the polycarbonate front, they then drop onto the shoot into the enclosure.
We added a mesh top onto the feeder to keep out the birds and prevent the public from adding their own food, however, this was where the fault in the design started.
The whole of the top of the feeder was based on the fact that the boys couldn't get their arms through the mesh, but it turns out we were very wrong, as you can see in this video. So, a week later, we went back and adapted the design by turning the mesh box around, adding some stronger mesh and a door to put the food in. And it works brilliantly!
A huge well done to the team for building the feeders, and thanks for being patient with us while we made the corrections to the design to get it to work properly.
For more information about our unique team building events, courses or enclosure design service, head to TeamBuildingwithBITE.com or email Info@TeamBuildingwithBITE.com
