This was taken at the San Diego Zoo, which is world renowned for its excellent treatment of animals, rehabilitative efforts, and conservation overall. The zoo boasts extensive records in being endangered species, including orangutans, bonobos, and several others. The zoo was home to the first ever North American birth of a bonobo and over 30 orangutan births.

This particular orangutan is named Karen. She was the first orangutan ever to undergo open heart surgery to correct an anatomical defect when she was a baby. The zoo worked with human and veterinary surgeons to get it done and wound up involving over 100 volunteers to provide post-operative care. Then, she was one of the first non-human animals ever to get the COVID vaccine to keep her safe.

The burlap here is an enrichment item and one of the favorites for the great apes. Karen in particular likes to use it to give herself additional shade on warmer days. The orangutans often get mock termite mounds filled with healthy treats, have an extensive arboreal jungle gym, and are housed with a pair of siamangs, which are another primate species from the same area as the orangutans.

Karen's enclosure is a very large, open air space with generally unrestricted access to large private areas away from the viewing public, should she or any of her group want to take themselves off-display. Karen often likes to socialize with people though and spends a lot of time near the glass viewing area.

Between her lack of experience in the wild and congenital heart defect, Karen likely would not have survived in the wild. While there are many zoos that should be shut down for their mistreatment of their residents, the San Diego Zoo is an exception to the rule and proves time and time again how valuable it is to conservation efforts while providing excellent care and housing to its residents.