Learn about the Bornean orangutans
at Utah’s Hogle Zoo
We heart orangutans!
Utah’s Hogle Zoo is home to four Bornean orangutans: Mia, Kawan, Acara, and Tuah. You can visit them in the Great Apes habitat, which has indoor and outdoor spaces.
Bornean orangutans live in most of the lowland Borneo on the equator between northern Australia and Southeast Asia. They live in several types of palm trees, including Nipah palms, Rhizophora, and Bruguiera trees. These allow them to live in nests far above the ground.
Orangutans are solitary by nature; groups generally include one adult female with one or two children. At Hogle Zoo, you will see the orangutans in pairs. Mia and Kawan were placed together as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP). You can also see siblings Tuah and Acara together.
Meet the Congress
Mia
Mia, pronounced My-ah, is the oldest orangutan in the congress, born July 8, 1989, at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. He is distinctive because of the large pouch of large laryngeal air sacs on his throat and his big cheek flanges. The large laryngeal air sacs extend around male orangutans’ arms and shoulders, helping their voices to carry half a mile. Mia is calm and even–tempered; he loves to interact with guests. Known for his love of puzzle feeders, Mia loves food and is motivated by it during training.
Kawan
Born on February 7, 2001, at the Henry Villas Zoo, Kawan is the oldest female orangutan. She is a dark, reddish color, and she has bright eyelids that you can use to tell her and Acara apart. She is fairly shy and enjoys building and sleeping in nests. You can often see Kawan and Mia playing, napping, and spending time together.
Acara
Acara was born May 7, 2005, at Hogle Zoo to the late Eli and Eve. Acara is the older sister of Tuah. She was trained to be his surrogate mother after Eve passed away shortly after Tuah’s birth. This was the first time a female orangutan with no experience with younger orangutans raised a baby. Acara is very social and playful, watching and interacting with her care team.
Tuah
Tuah was born at Hogle Zoo on November 4, 2014, and is the youngest orangutan. His older sister, Acara, raised him. They have a very close relationship, though, like any siblings, they do not get along constantly. Tuah means “lucky” in Malay, though it is also the letters of Utah mixed around. Tuah is calm and playful and loves interacting with people.
Conservation
Bornean orangutans are critically endangered, and population levels have dropped more than 50 percent over the past 60 years. Threatened by habitat loss and the non-sustainable palm oil trade, orangutans are considered critically endangered. The palm oil industry is a significant driver of deforestation in orangutan habitats. Palm oil is used in many household products, including packaged foods, soaps, and cosmetics. This is where you can help! Be a champion for wildlife and support companies that commit to sustainable palm oil practices and choose prod are certified as sustainable palm oil.
Follow us @HogleZoo for more Zoo Stories
Utah's Hogle Zoo
