Orangutans are highly intelligent great apes with complex social and cognitive needs. Meeting these needs in zoo settings is both a welfare obligation and a conservation imperative.
Orangutans in zoo settings face the challenge of providing adequate cognitive stimulation for animals with remarkable problem-solving abilities. Understimulated orangutans develop stereotypic behaviors including hair-pulling and repetitive rocking that indicate poor psychological welfare. Best practice includes complex environmental design with opportunities to climb, manipulate, forage, and problem-solve throughout the day. Behavioral training using positive reinforcement allows voluntary participation in health care. For a critically endangered species, zoo orangutans play an important role in conservation breeding and education, making getting their welfare right especially important.