Meet the Orangutans Living at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Born March 2, 1973, Lucy is our oldest orangutan—and one of the oldest in human care anywhere in the world. She lived at several other zoos before returning to Washington, D.C., in 2005. Now at 52, she’s considered the “aunt” of the group, especially to Kiko and Iris. 

Lucy has a big personality and is always eager to explore new enrichment items, from puzzles to novel scents. Keepers say she often surprises them with her clever solutions. Lucy is the only orangutan who does not travel on the O-Line, so guests can always spot her at the Ape House. 

Want to spot her? Look for the orangutan with dark skin on her face and hands who likes to sit by the circular window near the Ape House exit doors. 

Kiko was born here on November 24, 1987, to his mother Bonnie. He’s lived at the Zoo his entire life and shares a father with Iris, making them half-siblings. He’s the only adult male of the group. 

Quiet and reserved, Kiko is very food motivated and will often blow raspberries at keepers to signal that he’s ready for a snack. Despite his mellow nature, he enjoys playful wrestling with our younger male, Redd.  

Want to spot him? Look for the largest orangutan, with wide cheek pads and long locks of hair. He often lounges on platforms or quietly follows the others along the O-Line. 

Bonnie, born on December 29, 1976, at the ABQ BioPark Zoo, moved to Washington, D.C., in 1981 when the Great Ape House first opened. A few years later, she became a mother to Kiko. 

She is adventurous and full of personality — she’s sometimes nervous when faced with something new but is always quick to embrace it with encouragement from her keepers. Bonnie has even learned some surprising behaviors, like whistling and blowing her nose! Guests often notice her unique way of walking upright on two legs. 

Want to spot her? Look for the female who often walks upright on two legs. She has a middle part in her hair and a rounded bump on her forehead. 

Born April 15, 1987, Iris has lived at the Zoo her entire life. She is Kiko’s half-sister and shares his father. Her birth date, Tax Day, is what led to her being named Iris (a play on IRS.) 

Nicknamed “Princess Iris” by the keeper team, she is independent and decisive, often setting her own schedule for the day. She sometimes chooses to travel across the O-Line to spend the night at the Think Tank exhibit by herself. Iris is instantly recognizable by her fabulous hairstyle: long, side-swept bangs that guests often compliment. 

Want to spot her? Look for the orangutan with flowing, side-swept bangs. She often chooses a quiet spot on her own or crosses the O-Line to spend time at Think Tank. 

Batang was born December 27, 1996, at Lincoln Park Zoo and came here in 2004 as part of a breeding recommendation. Twelve years later, she gave birth to her son Redd. 

Batang is playful once she warms up to new people. She especially loves bubble baths—she will bring a bucket to the mesh and wait for keepers to fill it with suds. She’s also known for her acrobatics, often somersaulting across the habitat. Batang is the Zoo’s smallest female, with lighter orange hair and patches of pink skin around her mouth and eyes that will darken as she matures. 

Want to spot her? Look for the smallest adult female with lighter orange hair and pink skin around her mouth. She’s often seen near her son Redd. 

The youngest of the group, Redd was born at the Zoo on September 12, 2016, to mother Batang. Now entering his sub-adult years, Redd still spends much of his time with Batang but enjoys interacting with all the other orangutans. 

Redd is energetic, social, and sometimes a bit mischievous—much like a human child testing boundaries. He is extremely agile and loves to swing on fire hoses and perch at the highest points in his habitat. With his short red hair and pink skin on his face and hands, he looks a lot like his mom. 

Want to spot him? Look for the smallest orangutan with short, bright red hair and lots of pink on his face. He’s usually the one swinging fastest through the exhibit. 

Orangutans are critically endangered in the wild, with fewer than 120,000 left across Borneo and Sumatra. Exhibits like the O-Line—where orangutans travel high above Zoo visitors—highlight their arboreal nature of this species and encourage people to think about the treetops these apes need to survive. 

All of the Zoo’s orangutans are part of a Species Survival Plan managed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). This program coordinates and maintains the health and genetic diversity of the entire orangutan population at AZA-accredited zoos.  

Animal care teams at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute study orangutan biology and behavior, with the goal of improving husbandry and breeding of these apes in human care while also informing conservation strategies in the wild. 

Orangutan images courtesy of DC Zoo Walks.