Bob, one of three Bornean orangutans at the Greenville Zoo, will be leaving on December 3 for his new home at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon.
As part of a recommendation by the Orangutan Species Survival Program (SSP), administered by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), Bob will be introduced to a female orangutan.
“It is never easy to say goodbye to one of our family members, especially one that we have enjoyed watching grow up,” said Greenville Zoo Director Jeff Bullock. “Bob is now at an age where it is time for him to start his own family. We want to do our part to ensure that there is a strong captive population since orangutans are critically endangered in the wild.”
Bob will be joined at the 64-acre zoo by Kitra, a 12-year-old female orangutan from the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. The Greenville Zoo works directly with the SSP who develop long-term research and management strategies for the species. One of the most important roles of the SSP is to ensure that all orangutans are managed in a way that preserves the best possible genetic diversity.
Orangutans are a unique species and are only found on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. The increased demand for palm oil is fueling destruction of the rainforest habitat of Sumatran and Bornean orangutans, pushing those endangered species even closer to extinction. Found in cookies, crackers, frozen dinners, shampoo, lotions, cosmetics, pet food and many other products, palm oil is now the most widely produced edible oil. The Greenville Zoo is working with other zoos to promote an awareness of the palm oil crisis and encouraging the use of sustainable palm oil as defined by the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil).
Bob, 7 years old, was born at the Greenville Zoo on January 23, 2006. Bob’s parents, Mia, 25 years old, and Chelsea, 24 years old, arrived at the Greenville Zoo in 2003. Mia is owned by the Greenville Zoo, and Chelsea is on breading loan from the San Diego Zoo. The zoo will hold a farewell celebration for Bob on November 29 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. near the Orangutan Exhibit.
About the Greenville Zoo
Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), the Greenville Zoo is rated one of the best tourist attractions in South Carolina, attracting over 270,000 people annually. Operated by the City of Greenville, the 14-acre facility features wildlife from around the world, including orangutans, giraffes, monkeys and giant tortoises. Visitors can also enjoy one of the zoo’s most popular exhibits, the Reptile Building, which is home to a variety of lizards, frogs, turtles and snakes.
The Greenville Zoo is open seven days a week, except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Zoo entry ticket sales close at 4:15 p.m. Admission to the Greenville Zoo is $8.75 for adults and $5.50 for children (ages 3-15 years old). For more information about the Greenville Zoo, visit www.greenvillezoo.com or follow the zoo on Facebook at facebook.com/greenvillezoo.