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Orangutan News Archive
Apr. 28, 2022
April, or Ape-ril, is a great time to recognize our apes because many of them celebrate their birthdays this month!
Sep. 10, 2021
Our youngest Bornean orangutan, Redd, celebrated his fifth birthday Sept. 12! Primate keeper Erin Stromberg looks back at some of her favorite moments from the past year in her latest #OrangutanStory...
Apr. 02, 2021
From salamanders to siamangs, prairie dogs to pandas, and everything in between, all Zoo animals receive veterinary care. Often, that means an animal needs to take medicine. Find out how keepers and...
Oct. 29, 2020
Swing along with primate keeper Emily Bricker as she shares her stories about caring for orangutans, Zoo Guardians’ November Animal of the Month.
Sep. 11, 2020
It’s hard to believe that we are already celebrating our youngest Bornean orangutan’s fourth birthday! Catch up on the latest Redd news from primate keeper Erin Stromberg.
Sep. 04, 2020
As our young Bornean orangutan nears his fourth birthday, primate keeper Erin Stromberg reflects on how his relationships with the adults in his social network have blossomed over the last year.
Apr. 03, 2020
From flamingo courtships to weekly weigh-ins for the African lions, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is buzzing with beastly activity behind the scenes!
Nov. 01, 2019
How do you get an orangutan to sit still for an electrocardiogram? All it takes is a little patience and a lot of ingenuity! The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s positive reinforcement training program...
Sep. 12, 2019
As Bornean orangutan Redd turns 3 years old, primate keeper Erin Stromberg reflects on his exciting year.
Sep. 06, 2019
As two orangutan infants tussled in the trees, curator of primates Meredith Bastian and primate keeper Alex Reddy looked on in awe. Over the summer, they traveled to Central Kalimantan in Indonesian...
Jun. 21, 2019
Visitors to Washington, D.C., can expect warm weather and humidity this season. But not to worry — we’ve rounded up a few of the best ways to beat the heat at the Zoo this summer.
Jun. 07, 2019
With two youngsters, Moke and Redd, growing up at the Great Ape House, primate staff are taking the rare opportunity to study the gestures and spatial proximity between gorilla and orangutan mother-...
May. 03, 2019
Over the winter, Bornean orangutan Redd learned some new husbandry behaviors! Read the latest #OrangutanStory from primate keeper Erin Stromberg.
Mar. 01, 2019
Let’s play a game…for science! With a tap of the touch-screen computer, orangutans at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo try their memories at matching pictures. These games help scientists study the...
Feb. 14, 2019
This Valentine’s Day (or any day!) celebrate with your beloved and 2,700 of your closest animal friends at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Nov. 02, 2018
What sounds does an infant orangutan make? Primate keeper Erin Stromberg filmed the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s 2-year-old Bornean orangutan Redd as he pleaded with his mother to share her food. Get...
Aug. 30, 2018
As the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s great apes prepare to go to sleep, they make their beds, then settle in. Just like their wild counterparts, orangutans in zoos build cozy nests.
Aug. 02, 2018
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s charismatic Bornean orangutan infant, Redd, will celebrate his second birthday Sept. 12! Since the last update in February, he has hit some major milestones. Get the...
Mar. 05, 2018
Get the answers to your most internet-searched questions about orangutans.
Mar. 02, 2018
Expectant animal mothers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo often undergo maternal training to ensure that they are successful parents to their new offspring. In addition to training the mothers-to-be...
Feb. 01, 2018
At 16 months old, Bornean orangutan infant Redd is growing stronger and more independent every day. Read all about Redd’s progress and favorite activities in the latest Q&A with animal keeper...
Jun. 30, 2017
Bornean orangutan infant Redd is 9 months old! Although he still sticks close to mom, Batang, and she keeps a watchful eye on him, he is very active and seems to enjoy exploring his surroundings.
May. 05, 2017
Go behind the scenes with animal keepers Emily Bricker, Melba Brown and Alexandra Reddy as they care for some of the most endangered primates in the world.
Apr. 10, 2017
On April 4, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s nearly 7-month-old male Bornean orangutan, Redd, took his first trip on the O-Line carried by his mother, Batang. The 50-foot-high suspended cable track...
Mar. 31, 2017
Infant orangutans in zoos around the world, including Redd, can help their wild counterparts by simply showing their teeth.