Mission Statement
Indianapolis Zoo
1200 W. Washington St. P.O. Box 22309 Indianapolis, IN 46222.0309
The Indianapolis
Zoo empowers
people and
communities, both
locally and globally,
to advance animal
conservation.
indianapoliszoo.com
317.630.2001 ph
317.630.5153 fx
EXHIBIT DETAILS
Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center – An Epic Exhibit:
The Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center is a game-changing exhibit designed specifically
to meet the physical, social and intellectual needs of orangutans. It is a unique home for one of
the largest groups of orangutans in any American zoo with an overall land area larger than two
NFL football fields. It also serves as a vital education, research and conservation center, where
dedicated staff and community members can work together to create a positive future for
critically endangered orangutans in the wild.
Nina Mason Pulliam Beacon of Hope
The stunning centerpiece of the Center is the Nina Mason Pulliam Beacon of Hope, a towering
150-foot structure that will be illuminated each night by lights, the color of which will be
controlled by the orangutans. It's a beautiful addition to the downtown skyline and also a symbol
and call to action that the hope for orangutans rests with all of us.
Efroymson Family Exploration Hub
Inside the Efroymson Family Exploration Hub, guests can experience firsthand the amazing
intelligence of these great apes as they work together to solve puzzles at several interactive
stations. Kiosks set up throughout the exhibit will allow guests to learn more about the incredible
creatures here at the Zoo as well as their counterparts in the wild. Orangutans face a serious
threat in the wild; they are on track to become the first great ape species to become extinct,
primarily due to habitat loss. So guests can learn more about those issues and how they can help.
R.B. Annis Atrium
The R.B. Annis Atrium, a four-season living space with an internal height of 50 feet, allows
orangutans and humans to come together regardless of weather conditions. The Atrium has both
indoor and outdoor viewing for guests and houses the Tim M. Solso Learning Studio.
Tim M. Solso Learning Studio
Orangutans at the Center will use interactive technology in groundbreaking ways, from learning
new language skills on the computers in the Tim M. Solso Learning Studio to using the world’s first
orangutan vending machines. The innovation isn’t just for orangutans, though — you can create a
masterpiece with an orangutan by digitally finger painting side-by-side. Visitors also can design
custom digital postcards to commemorate their visits and then email them to friends or share
them on Facebook.
Community Plaza
Community Plaza is the open-air viewing and gathering place in front of the Atrium’s Window on
the Forest. The story of the orangutans’ Indonesian home begins to unfold in the Plaza with sights,
sounds and interpretive graphics.
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Simon Skjodt
International
Orangutan Center –
An Epic Exhibit
Oases
One of the most innovative aspects of the exhibit is the freedom it offers to its orangutan
residents. Located around the perimeter of the exhibit are three Oases where the orangutans can
go if they wish to be apart from the others. The Oases provide up-close orangutan viewing as they
learn, play and rest. Two of the oases have fully climate-controlled structures within them and are
accessed via the Myrta Pulliam Hutan Trail.
Myrta Pulliam Hutan Trail
The Oases are connected by the Myrta Pulliam Hutan Trail, a network of cables, platforms and
bridges 45 to 80 feet high that allow orangutans to travel across the Zoo and over the heads of
guests. Although this mode of transportation might be frightening for most humans, the
orangutans are right at home at those heights. To them, climbing and swinging back and forth on
cables is just as simple as it is for us to walk down the street. It really is the orangutans' sidewalk in
the sky.
The Skyline
The Skyline is an aerial cable ride with 1,200 feet of track rising 50 feet above the Zoo, taking
visitors close to the Myrta Pulliam Hutan Trail for a unique perspective on the orangutans and a
stunning view of downtown Indianapolis.
Green Roof
The Zoo is setting the “green” standard with the Center’s special roof. A lush carpet of sedum, a
hardy perennial plant, is planted on top of a lightweight growing substrate and waterproof
membrane. Sedum was selected for its regenerative abilities, low maintenance and tolerance to
heat, drought, wind and frost. The green roof catches approximately 70 percent of an average
day’s rainfall, while the remaining runoff goes into 10,000-gallon storage tanks that are used for
irrigation at the Zoo. At approximately 6,400 square feet, the Center’s green roof provides
ecological, economic and aesthetic benefits for years to come.
Contacts:
Judy Palermo
Public Relations Sr. Mgr.
(317) 630-2010, office
[email protected]
Carla Knapp
Public Relations Specialist
(317) 630-3257, office
[email protected]
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About the Indianapolis Zoo
Located in White River State Park downtown, the Indianapolis Zoo is accredited by the Association
of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Association of Museums as a zoo, aquarium and
botanical garden. The Indianapolis Zoo empowers people and communities, both locally and
globally, to advance animal conservation.