Orangutans are critically threatened by deforestation and palm oil expansion, with zoo populations playing an important conservation role while requiring specialised welfare provision.
Orangutan welfare in zoos requires understanding their largely solitary nature while providing opportunities for voluntary social interaction. Enclosures must have extensive vertical structure as orangutans are highly arboreal. Daily cognitive enrichment through novel foraging puzzles, construction materials, and varied food presentations is essential for psychological welfare. The conservation urgency for orangutans means zoo populations serve a genuine insurance function, making welfare investment directly linked to species survival outcomes.