Hubbard Orangutan Forest

Hubbard Orangutan Forest features an immersive, educational experience for guests and an enriched environment for the Bornean orangutans and Siamangs that call it home. The exhibit design focuses on education and immersion, creating a multi-sensory experience that captures the sights, sounds and smells of an Indonesian rainforest, transporting guests to the orangutans' natural habitat. Enrichment, encounters and cultural nods throughout create a one-of-a-kind experience.

Orangutan Habitat

The orangutan habitat features a 20-foot-tall waterfall, tree root climbing structure and an expansive indoor and outdoor area. Integrated technology throughout the exhibit will enrich the experience of both orangutans and guests.

This new habitat will enrich the lives of our orangutans with:

A dual screen projector that will display an interactive forest floor with leaves and insects, allowing guests and orangutans to have parallel interaction.
Two training doors within the habitat for guests to witness the daily training sessions between our animal care team and the orangutans.
An enrichment tree, set with a 20-foot grain auger that is remotely controlled, to elevate food and encourage the orangutans' natural behavior of foraging.
An interactive touchscreen designed to use technology as an enrichment tool. Because of the high intelligence of orangutans, we are using this technology to challenge and intellectually stimulate them, as well as provide an avenue to easily change and adapt the programs to better their enrichment.

Siamang Habitat

The Siamang habitat will include an indoor and outdoor space. Featuring two enrichment trees with 1,000 feet of artificial vines, a 20-foot-tall waterfall with a shallow stream and heating and cooling through radiant tubing in the floor and walls.

Guest Experience

Education and immersion are at the heart of the exhibit design and features. As guests enter the newly redesigned elevator building, they will transcend further into the forests of Indonesia. Enrichment, encounters and cultural nods throughout, create a one-of-a-kind experience.

A play area that encourages learning about orangutans' unique behaviors, such as nesting and provides a closer view.
A four-screen video wall includes multiple 30-second videos, introducing our orangutans and educating viewers about their unique features while exploring valuable conservation messaging about deforestation and palm oil.
An interactive touchscreen map of Indonesia's islands, including Sumatra and Borneo, displaying its diverse animal and plant life.
An immersive display of the flora of Indonesia - the islands are home to more than 40,000 species of flowering plants, 5,000 orchid species and the Rafflesia arnoldii, the largest flower in the world.

Finally, guests will be met with the reimagined Claire's Falls and play area in the unique space connecting Hubbard Orangutan Forest and Hubbard Gorilla Valley. This space includes the aptly named Orangutan Oasis to enjoy light snacks and drinks and a specialty gift shop featuring orangutan and gorilla-themed gifts.