It’s the New England Patriots!

Louisville Zoo’s orangutan Amber makes her Super Bowl pick

Hopefully you didn’t place your bets just yet, because Amber, the Louisville Zoo’s 20-year-old orangutan, made her Super Bowl prediction today when chose the New England Patriots.

When Amber entered the Islands Day Room, she was given a choice between two T-shirts—New England Patriots and New York Giants. She first grabbed the Giants T-shirt, but then took hold of the Patriots one. After going back and forth between the two, she finally chose the New England Patriots T-shirt and put it on.

The T-shirt prediction was part of Amber’s animal enrichment program.

“Animal enrichment is an important aspect of animal management at the Louisville Zoo,” said Louisville Zoo Animal Training Supervisor Jane Anne Franklin. “Amber and other animals at the Zoo are given regular enrichment that provides them with mental and physical stimulation.”

Franklin said playing with T-shirts and other items of clothing is one of Amber’s favorite activities.

“When she is given a shirt, she often likes to take it and rub it across her face and feel the texture before she puts it on. Oh, and she really likes handbags!” Franklin laughed. “If she had to choose between two handbags that might have been hard for her, because I bet she would have carried both of them around and not let them out of her sight.”

Franklin said that Amber might do more predictions in the future.

“It’s just something fun for her,” Franklin said. “And she enjoys all the attention.”

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). For more information, visit www.louisvillezoo.org.

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