In this video, Jeremy Barlow talks to orangutan keeper Bob Keesecker about how Duchess, Bess, Michael and Kasih are adjusting to their new home. Come get face-to-face with these great apes and enjoy climate-controlled guest areas. Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest” is now open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Phoenix Zoo.

The new orangutan exhibit, Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest,” is now open at the Phoenix Zoo. Come visit the Phoenix Zoo and see Duchess, Bess, Michael and Kasih climb, swing and play in their new home. Get up-close to the orangutans with face-to-face viewing and enjoy indoor air-conditioned guest areas. The brand new exhibit is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In this video, Jeremy Barlow of the Phoenix Zoo gives a sneak peek of Duchess’ Bilik at the new orangutan exhibit, Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest.” Bilik is the Malay word for room. This area is dedicated to the 51-year-old Duchess, the oldest Bornean orangutan in North America.

Duchess was born in the wild jungles of Borneo where she was orphaned at a very young age. When she came to Phoenix in 1962, it was determined that she was around 2 years old. She has spent the last 49 years at the Phoenix Zoo. During her life, Duchess has given birth to seven babies. Five of her children have reproduced, and she currently has four living children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild living in zoos across the country. Duchess is very observant and curious about the people who visit her at the Zoo. She loves to watch the crowd just as intently as guests watch her.

Visit phoenixzoo.org/orang-hutan for more information on the new exhibit which opens April 11 to the general public. Phoenix Zoo members can get a special preview of the exhibit April 8-10.

In this video, Jeremy Barlow of the Orangutan Experience team gives a sneak peek of the face-to-face viewing opportunities in the new orangutan exhibit, Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest.” This is the first time face-to-face viewing of the orangutans will be available at the Phoenix Zoo. This unique feature will allow guests to view the orangutans in a whole new way!

In this video, Jeremy Barlow of the Phoenix Zoo gives you a sneak peek of one of the guest areas of the new orangutan exhibit. Check out the Lookout Tower at Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest” and see Duchess, Bess, Michael and Kasih in their new home.

In this video, Jeremy Barlow of the Phoenix Zoo gives you a sneak peek into the view from one of the orangutans’ climbing structures in the new exhibit, Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest.”

The orangutans are currently off exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo until their new home opens in April 2011.

In this video, Jeremy Barlow of the Phoenix Zoo talks about the Enrichment Tree in the orangutans’ new exhibit, Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest.” This feature will allow the orangutans to stay active, both mentally and physically.

The orangutans are currently off exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo until their new home opens in April 2011.

In this video, Jeremy Barlow of the Phoenix Zoo gives a tour of the indoor guest-viewing area at the new orangutan exhibit, Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest.” Guests will get the opportunity to view our family of Bornean orangutans face-to-face, as well as the opportunity to view training sessions in the orangutans’ day rooms.

The orangutans are currently off exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo until their new home opens in April 2011.

Kasih encounters grass for the first time

The Phoenix Zoo is finishing up construction on our new exhibit, Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest.” If you have visited the Zoo lately, you might have noticed our family of Bornean orangutans is off exhibit. Duchess, Bess, Michael and Kasih are getting used to their new home while the exhibit is being finished.

When our family of orangutans moved to their new home, they started by getting used to their new bedrooms while the outdoor yards were being finished. Their new bedrooms provide them with fifteen times more space indoors than their previous home. With the completion of the Arboreal Yard, Duchess and her family was finally able to explore one of their new outdoor yards.

Bess swings on the sway poles and ropes

The Arboreal Yard provides the orangutans with many ways to stay off the ground as they do in their natural habitat. Climbing structures, an enrichment tree and sway poles give them the opportunity to be up in the air. Duchess, Bess, Michael and Kasih are right at home in their new environment. Michael has even taken advantage of the large mesh net that encloses the Arboreal Yard, using it to stand at the top of one of the tallest climbing structures and even hanging upside down from it!

Bess and Kasih encountered grass for the first time in their new exhibit. Kasih was especially curious of this new surface; she spent some time touching, smelling and even tasting it. After a thorough inspection, she decided it was okay. In fact, she decided it was more than okay. Kasih loves rolling in the grass!

Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest” will be available for viewing to the public when the new exhibit opens in April 2011. Until then, check the Phoenix Zoo’s blog, Facebook and Twitter for updates on how Duchess, Bess, Michael and Kasih are doing in their brand new home.

Michael climbs along the top of the exhibit

In this video, Jeremy Barlow of the Phoenix Zoo talks about one of the yards in the new orangutan exhibit, Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest.” Get an exclusive look at the Arboreal Yard and learn a little more about the orangutans’ new home.

The Phoenix Zoo is currently building a new home for our family of Bornean orangutans. While their new home is being finished, the orangutans will be off exhibit. Check out a sneak peek of the new exhibit, set to open April 2011.