Modupipe is a modular feeding system of differently shaped thermoplastic pipes designed for great apes in zoo settings. Modupipe makes use of tool-use behaviors that are natural to a variety of primate species, challenging them to perform such behaviors in oder to receive a reward in form of a snack. The tubes are made out of PVC, a very light, inexpensive and highly resistant material. The different modules can be joined together to form individual tubes of different shapes and lengths and can be freely and three-dimensionally distributed in the enclosure. In addition to the tubes, the set consists of thin wooden sticks, wooden boards and one or more feeding bowls. The basic idea is to move the bowl through the tubes using a wooden rod and boards until the bowl reaches the end of the tube.

Interaction

Each tube module has a vertical slot and two horizontal slots, respectively, adapted to the moulding line. The wooden rod is passed through the vertical slot and inserted into a ring attached to the feeding tray. Now the feeding tray can be moved through the tube following the slot line. To secure the tray and prevent it from returning to its previous position, the boards can be inserted into the horizontal slots. The tray is now secured and the user can proceed to the next module - until the tray reaches the end of the pipe system and its contents can be eaten.

The advantage of using PVC is that it is a very cheap industrial product, available in large numbers and around the world. In addition, it is a very light material, which ensures universal applicability (the tubes can easily be suspended) and reduces the risk of injury. The material also makes it possible to modify the system and to introduce different levels of difficulty in order to constantly present users with new challenges. ModuPipe can easily be applied to enclosures of many primate species, like Orang-Utans, Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Bonobos or Macaques.

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Prototype

Process - Prototype