Orangutans nest high in trees, so it makes sense for Perth Zoo to build a two-metre high boardwalk around its orangutan exhibit to bring visitors closer than ever to its apes.
It has taken six months to build the $3.6 million boardwalk around the zoo's 12 Sumatran orangutans.
The revamped exhibit includes a soundscape of the orangutans' natural environment, more than 2000 plants to create a rainforest atmosphere, and some informative signs explaining conservation efforts.
The 125 metre-long boardwalk was built using renewable and recycled materials, including reconstituted decking from recycled milk and other plastic containers mixed with sawdust from plantation-grown pine.
Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the boardwalk was an improvement on the old exhibit, which left visitors at ground level, looking up at the primates.
"The boardwalk design also allows four extra vertical poles to be linked to the main towers with climbing ropes," he said.
"This increased space will encourage the orangutans to spend more time up high which is better for their health and strength."
Primate supervisor Holly Thompson said the apes were curious about their new exhibit.
Orangutans are critically endangered in the wild, with habitat destruction being a major threat to their survival.
Perth Zoo runs an internationally renowned breeding program, which has bred 29 orangutans since 1970.
It released two zoo-born orangutans into the wild in 2006 and 2011.
