We’re delighted to bring you the latest on our sweet Jojo. Every moment she spends in the forest seems cherished. She continues to charm everyone with her kind nature and playful spirit. She’s comfortably settled in her sleeping enclosure with her two orangutan friends, Nani and Giselle. Providing a stable, safe space for Jojo has allowed her to relax and express herself at her own pace.

In the forest, Jojo loves to explore far from the playground and is quite the agile climber, often scaling high up into the trees. She’s growing steadily in confidence, moving through the trees slightly tentatively but firmly. As she sits perched alone in the safety of two branches, the sun shines down on Jojo’s head. The bright light creates a halo around her spiky orange hair. Although sometimes alone in the tops of trees, Jojo is not anti-social. On the contrary, Jojo is equally happy among her caregivers and her orangutan peers. This independence coupled with emotional intelligence will steer her well.

Her appetite for life is almost as big as her appetite for food. She enjoys everything from watermelon and melon to cucumbers. She has the habit of picking bright pink hebe shrubs, holding them close to her nose, scrunching her eyes shut and drinking in the scent. It doesn’t stop there, as Jojo nibbles the petals as well, as she holds a twig of the shrub aloft proudly and even pokes her caregiver in the back with it. When she’s not drinking in the sweet taste of nature, she may be found in the playground drinking milk offered to her by her ever-attentive caregivers. When not drinking milk, Jojo enthusiastically devours the various contents of a rattan enrichment ball (a favourite), which may include such items as honey, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and chewable vitamins.

Jojo has a wonderfully comforting nature. If Nani or Giselle cry because they’re left behind, she’ll go back into the forest just to be near them. Jojo is calm and content most of the time, but has a stubborn streak. She doesn’t like the fun to end and can be a little difficult to get back into her sleeping enclosure at the end of the day. When she finally returns from the forest, she always gives Ibu Ijum, her primary caregiver, the most beautiful kisses and hugs. Their bond means the world to her; security and warmth going hand in hand. We will continue to be here as long Jojo needs us.

Click here to download Jojo’s August 2025 Foster Update