With their gentle nature and infamous red hair it’s no surprise they’re some of the most beloved animals at the Zoo.

For more than five decades, we’ve played an important role in the care and conservation of Sumatran Orangutans, with generations of these ape-soloutely amazing animals.

Today, seven Sumatran Orangutans call Perth Zoo home, and our primate team work hard to ensure the needs of our animals are met;

From providing specialised nutrition plans, to creating new and engaging forms of enrichment, the high-standard of welfare contributes to our internationally recognised expertise in caring for these great apes.

But caring for orangutans here at Perth Zoo is only one part of our work to protect the critically endangered primates.

Their wild cousins need our help too.

With fewer than 12,000 Sumatran Orangutans estimated to remain in the wild, you could fit the entire wild population inside RAC Arena.

That’s why we work with partners and researchers across the world to help protect these great apes.

Take a look at just some of the ways we're working to help orangutans.

Meet the Perth Zoo Sumatran Orangutans 

Orangutans share up to 97% of their genetics with humans and, just like us, no two are exactly alike.
That certainly rings true for our resident Sumatran Orangutans here at the Zoo. Get to know what makes each of them so unique:

Dinar is our gentle adult male who likes to quietly keep an eye on everything happening around him.

Utama is the eldest of the family and has plenty of personality. When she’s in a particularly good mood, she’s been known to tap her feet up and down, something her carers affectionately call her “happy feet”.

Sekara is curious and alert and loves spending time up high, just as orangutans naturally would in the wild.

Pulang is our independent lady who likes doing things her own way. She became a first-time mum in 2012 and is mum to Lestari.

Teliti is an adventurous young female and is always keen to investigate. She loves to put her impressive orangutan problem-solving skills to work.

Sungai is our growing young male. While he’s still smaller than Dinar, his broadening shoulders and developing cheek pads are signs he’s well on his way to adulthood.

Lestari has a gentle, more reserved personality and usually seeks comfort from companions.
 

Conservation partner: Frankfurt Zoological Society

Since 2006 we have had a long-standing partnership with conservation organisation Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) marking two decades of partnership. 

Habitat loss and fragmentation caused by deforestation of land for oil palm and rubber trees, human-wildlife conflict and the illegal wildlife trade have pushed all three species of orangutans to the brink of extinction, so our partnership with FZS work makes a huge difference to the species.

FZS has a sanctuary in Bukit Tigapuluh (BTP) focusing on rescue, rehabilitation and release of more than 200 rescued orangutans.

Over the span of our partnership with FZS we have worked together on the master planning of world-class primate facilities, behavioural enrichment, enclosure designs, conflict mitigation, and so much more.

How we give orangutans a second chance

Sadly, habitat destruction leaves many young orangutans orphaned from a very young age.

Just like human kids, young orangutans have a lot to learn before they’re ready to head out into the wild.

With our support, FZS teaches rescued orangutans essential skills they need to survive in the wild.

Jungle School is there to teach the rescued orangutans everything they need to know to survive in the wild, before joining their fellow great ape cousins in the protected Sumatran rainforest of Bukit Tigapuluh.

With the help of their human carers and often a buddy orangutan, Jungle School ‘students’ learn to find food and water, stay in the trees where it’s safe, navigation, how to get along with others, and how to make a nest to sleep in.

Once the graduates are released into their new home in Sumatra, they are tracked by wildlife biologists until we are absolutely certain they have what they need to survive in the rainforest.

And the best part? Many of these orangutans have gone on to have babies of their own – creating a new generation of Sumatran Orangutans growing up in the wild, and mums raising their little ones in the home where their heart is!
 

Breeding Program 

Did you know we’re the only Zoo in the world to have released zoo-born orangutans into the wild?

In 2006 female Sumatran Orangutan Temara made the world-first journey from right here in South Perth to Sumatra.

Following her success two more zoo-born orangutans were also released into the rainforests of Bukit Tigapuluh in 2011 and 2016.

But the incredible achievement didn't happen overnight.

It was built on decades of caring for, breeding and learning from Sumatran Orangutans.

In fact, 29 orangutans born at the Zoo have gone on to contribute to species management programs around the world, helping support the future of this critically endangered species.

What our orangutans are teaching us 

As ambassadors for their wild cousins, our resident Sumaran Orangutans help raise awareness of challenges the species face in the wild.

But they also help us learn so much about orangutan care too.

From where they choose to spend their time to how they interact with enrichment, food and their environment, the everyday behaviours of our seven orangutans can tell us a lot.

Most recently, our Primate team worked with the Bornean Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) on a research project exploring one simple but important question:

What does good welfare look like for an orangutan, and how can we make it even better?

Through daily observations, surveys and plenty of conversations, the team worked alongside BOSF to take a closer look at orangutan behaviour aligning the research with the Five Domains of Animal Welfare.

The information collected at Perth Zoo, along with data from other Australian and New Zealand zoos, will help BOSF better understand orangutan welfare across different environments, and help guide the care of orangutans living in rehabilitation and long-term care centres in Borneo, including those that cannot be released back into the wild and may need specialist care throughout their lives.

For us at Perth Zoo, the research outcomes will help shape how we care for orangutans for years to come, including innovating husbandry and the future habitat designs for the next phase of our future zoo.

How you can help 

Around 80% of orangutan habitat has been lost to logging and permanent agricultural conversion, in particular for oil palm plantations.

But you have the power to help protect rainforest in Asia that are home to these wonderful apes.

It’s as simple as making a few simple swaps in your weeklyshop by supporting businesses that are committed to using Certified Sustainable Palm Oil.   

Luckily for you the PalmOilScan app makes this super easy!

Using the app you can scan barcodes or search products and find out whether it uses certified sustainable palm oil or is on a journey to do so.  

Just a few simple swaps in your weekly shop can help put a stop to excessive habitat destruction and make the world safer for these endangered species.  

And trust us, your favourite snacks will taste better when you know they’re forest-friendly! 

Click here to download the app and find out all the ways you can help orangutans in the wild.