In 2019 a young female orangutan, Molly, was due to be moved from Twycross Zoo to Wingham Wildlife Park. As she had already undergone a general anaesthetic for a pre-export health check, it was preferred she was trained into a crate to be transported to the new zoo.

The crate was fixed into place in an off show corridor leading into the smallest day area and as Molly was sharing her exhibit with five other orangutans she was separated in the smaller day area whilst training took place.

The team began with basic target training to move her around the enclosure, this was the extended into the crate. The crate door was left open as a keeper stationed Molly and targeted her at various points inside the crate. After a few sessions she was reliably sitting in the crate with both hands and feet on the crates mesh door.

Next other behaviours were introduced into the training session to keep Molly engaged. Once she was comfortable, the slide between the crate and the day place was closed a few inches then immediately re opened. This was repeated until Molly was completely ignoring the movement of the closing door, then the slide was closed half way following the same pattern and then finally completely shut, at which point Molly's reward for continuing to train increased in value. The length of time the door was shut for was extended until she was comfortable being shut in her crate.

The whole process took a total of 23 days to complete. Molly was transported to her new facility and integrated with her new group.