Storm-damaged orangutan enclosure fully reopens

Zookeepers have fully reopened an orangutan enclosure 15 months after it was badly damaged by high winds.

The roof of Rajang's Forest at Colchester Zoo was compromised when 50mph (80km/h) gusts hit the area in April 2024.

Temporary repairs were made to keep it open until June 2025, when the three primates were then taken off display so engineers could build a permanent fix.

A spokesman for the Essex attraction said staff were pleased to have its charismatic apes back on show after the five-week project.

The orangutans - Tiga, Mali and Tatau - were not harmed in the initial incident.

Instead, they were noted to be "intrigued" by maintenance crews investigating the damage.

"The roof is a fully openable roof allowing us to assist with the temperature control of the habitat, therefore not quite a straight forward repair," the zoo explained.

"This maintenance involved extensive scaffolding in order to replace the roof. Unfortunately, this was not a quick fix."

However, the spokesman said the works were completed quicker than predicted.

They added: "We are very sorry that visitors were unable to see our trio of orangutans during the repair period, but we're pleased to reopen ahead of the summer holidays."

The enclosure was named after 50-year-old Rajang, an orangutan best known for his fascination with women's "baby bumps" who died in 2018.

It was built by a specialist French company in the early 2000s.

The apes reacted to subtle changes in sound, smell and temperature in the habitat after it was damaged.

Andy Moore, the zoo's director of science, education and training, said visitors provided "enrichment" for them.

"Orangutans are really curious creatures, but the roof blowing off of their enclosure wasn't what we'd planned for them to be interested in," he told the BBC in April 2024.

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