If you thought humans were the only primates who enjoy playing with an iPad – think again. Some folks over at the Milwaukee County Zoo in Wisconsin recently discovered that apparently orangutans like the tablet computer too. According to reports online, the orangutans were fascinated with their photographs being shown on the tablet, and with watching video clips of other animals.

“They like many of the free apps that I think children would like – they like the free apps where you can finger-paint, they like the apps where you can use the drums,” says Trish Khan, Milwaukee County Zoo’s orangutan keeper.

The orangutans also enjoyed programs like Doodle Buddy (a drawing app), Magic Piano (to create music) and simple games like Koi Pond. Right now they are being observed to see how they interact with the iPad tablets so that developers can hopefully come up with more orangutan-optimized apps in the future.

The iPads help provide a little extra enrichment, physical and mental stimulation for the orangutans living in captivity. Zoo Atlanta and the Smithsonian National Zoo are some of the other facilities that have similar programs for their orangutans.

While they enjoy playing with the tablets, the orangutans typically have to do so through their enclosure’s metal bars. If they got a hold of the tablet, they might attempt to take it apart. So the zookeepers will need to find a way to safeguard the tablet before they can leave the iPad with them full-time.

If you would like to support this program, Orangutan Outreach is accepting donations of cash or gently used iPads to get more tablets in the hands of apes and their zookeepers, who are interested in participating in the program. The organization is hoping that first-generation iPads will become more affordable and accessible once the iPad 3 debuts in the coming months.