Another six months, another chance to check in with Jojo, our active, happy-go-lucky and forthright little orangutan. Jojo climbs the playground’s ladders with ease, navigating her way through the do’s and don’ts of orangutan life. She has climbed her way up the figurative ladder as well, making the leap from the “training wheels” of the playground to the full unadulterated experience of the Learning Forest. The leaves of the forest intertwine and embrace her lovingly, and Jojo enthusiastically loses herself in them. For her there is no going back, touching leaves is what life is about. Jojo spends hours exploring the forest until finally laying down on her stomach for a rest, as sunlight dapples through the trees, illuminating her quiet contentment.

Jojo has even begun to learn the art of nest making by bending branches and weaving them together and piling up loose vegetation. All the fundamentals of nest making. This is a skill that can take years to master through practice and watching her peers, so we’re overjoyed to see her engaging in this activity as a youngster. Jojo much prefers spending her time exploring the forest these days, to the point that she can be difficult to cajole back home at the end of the day. Her caregivers have learned her one weakness though, and are able to entice her back home at the end of the day with some milk.

All this exploring requires sustenance, and Jojo has been known to take more than her fair share, resorting to taking her friends’ food as well if they’re not watching! Despite this, orangutans Nani, Giselle, and Jojo have formed a tight bond and enjoy a vigorous roll around in their sleeping enclosure, still full of energy and excitement after a full day. Jojo may enjoy some rough housing but draws a line where it comes to mess or dirtiness – she is a lady, after all.

It warms our hearts to see Jojo thriving and taking full advantage of every opportunity provided to her. Watching her develop the confidence and freedom to express herself naturally makes every step of her journey worthwhile.

Click here to download Jojo’s August 2026 Foster Update