Cleveland Metroparks Zoo opened its RainForest building in 1992, and the orangutans have been living under its big glass dome ever since. Now, more than 30 years later, they’re getting an outdoor yard for the first time at the zoo.
Some of the orangutans have never even experienced grass, zoo executive director Chris Kuhar told Cleveland Magazine. Their new home is part of Primate Forest, which opens to visitors at noon on Thursday, October 22.
The zoo broke ground on September 10, 2024, and originally put the first phase at about $60 million. That number has gone up since then, with Cleveland Magazine reporting a $70 million price tag for the first phase and $120 million for the whole project…