IndIanapolIs Zoo annual RepoRt 2011

savInG tHe FutuRe
FoR oRanGutans
He was staring at the audience from the
gigantic screen ––60 feet high and 84 feet
wide––at the IMAX Theater in White River
State Park. An orangutan named Azy, an animal
whose eyes and face are easily read by anyone.
Whatever his look is trying to communicate,
Azy made a huge impact on the people taking
in the big announcement. On December 6, 2011,
hundreds of special friends of the Zoo joined
our staff for this special moment, a time of
monumental importance in every respect. The
location was intentional. We needed a large
screen to present a big vision of the future.
We announced the Campaign for Conservation
and Community, which includes several
major developments at the Zoo but has as
its centerpiece the International Orangutan
Center, scheduled to open in 2014. Everything
about this exhibit, the most dramatic new
addition to the Zoo in its history and already
described as the best zoo exhibit in the world,
speaks to our conservation mission.
Designed in consultation with Zoo staff
and experts, the orangutan habitat will be
a dynamic, interactive exhibit that allows
these fascinating and endangered primates
to engage in their natural behaviors, while
challenging their curiosity and creativity. It
will accommodate the orangutans’ arboreal
lifestyle, stimulate and engage their remarkable
intelligence, and support their unique social
structure. It will also create a visitor experience
like no other. Zoo guests will enjoy diverse
viewing opportunities, ranging from intimate
encounters at ground level to spectacular
aerial rides above. Finally, a soaring tower-
like structure will draw people into the
Indianapolis Zoo, while enhancing the
downtown skyline. With its unique
design, it will become an icon for
the Zoo, and a beacon of hope for
the city and for wild orangutans.
For more information on the
Campaign for Conservation
and Community, visit our
campaign website,
indianapoliszoofuture.com.
23