Dutch researchers tapped Tinder to find an orangutan’s next mate

Samboja, an 11-year-old orangutan at a Dutch zoo, is looking for love. Samboja and a team of scientists are foregoing the traditional approach of finding a mate and instead opting for the application many singles are currently using to find love: Tinder.

Scientists hope that by showing Samboja images of potential mates on a touchscreen device they can observe what effect appearance has on a primate’s love life. The program, dubbed ‘Tinder for Orangutans,’ is part of on-going research in the field that maps the role of emotions on animal relationships.

Researchers have nothing to report as yet other than a few broken tablets. So far Tinder isn’t quite Samboja’s cup of tea; the orangutan keeps smashing the tablets. We feel you, Samboja; Tinder is a mixed bag.

It’s the same problem encountered by another program — Apps for Apes — that attempted to use Apple iPads on create apes in US and Canadian zoos. That study, however, wasn’t about love. Primates in the Apps for Apes program were watching videos of themselves and finger painting. They also weren’t allowed to hold the tablet.

As The Guardian notes, this could be a challenge for Tinder for Orangutans researchers; Samboja’s mother, Sandy, is known by zoo personnel as ‘Demolition Woman.’

via The Verge