Up-high or down-low, Sumatran Orangutans enthral visitors with a single, soulful glance. Perth Zoo is a world leader in breeding Sumatran Orangutans with 25 Sumatran Orangutans born at the Zoo since 1970. Perth Zoo’s most recent addition is a young male called Nyaru who was born to Negara in 2007.

In 1979, the orangutan exhibit was opened and contained simple, metal climbing frames. It was decided in 2000 that the exhibit was in need of a total upgrade to provide the orangutan colony with a more natural and dynamic environment.

The redeveloped exhibit provides these unique primates with diverse behavioural enrichment opportunities through a ‘synthetis forest’ of trees made out of steel, concrete and recycled timber. The fact that orangutans eat tree bark, leaves and branches precluded the use of natural materials for these structures. Once the exhibit upgrade is finished, visitors will experience these animals at eye-level, high above the ground.

Part of the exhibit upgrade will include more information about the plight of these animals in the wild and what Perth Zoo is doing to help. Perth Zoo’s breeding program will maintain a back-up or ‘insurance’ population should the species disappear from the wild. Perth Zoo also supports conservation organisation Australian Orangutan Project and its work in the wild.

For more information on saving the Sumatran Orangutan, come along for the daily special presentation at 11am.