Donations

A new house for our orangutans

Our current Orangutan House does not meet the latest standards for modern and innovative animal accommodation. Despite the significant breeding successes that have been achieved with these endangered great apes and the devoted care of our keepers, urgent action is required to bring our enclosures up to current animal accommodation standards.

Now our wish is coming true: plans are in progress to build a new facility which meets the latest architectural and animal accommodation standards, and which is modelled on the animals’ natural habitat. In the lowland rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo, orangutans spend almost their entire lives on and in the trees. There was therefore a particular focus during the planning phase on the vertical design of the enclosure. With an overall height of 10 metres, the new enclosure offers the orangutans considerably more space, as well as climbing facilities designed to resemble their native jungle habitat. Another special feature is the encasement of the outdoor enclosures, to protect these reclusive creatures from both noise and wind.

At a total cost of € 22 million, the new Orangutan House is the largest construction project in Dresden Zoo’s history. 10% of the total construction costs are to be financed by donations. Help us make our ambitious project a reality for Toni, Daisy, Dalai, Djudi and Djaka, as well as for future generations of orangutans and, of course, for you - our wonderful visitors!