Our oldest male orangutan at the sanctuary, Radcliffe, recently turned 46!

Radcliffe, a hybrid of Bornean and Sumatran orangutans, was born in a zoo. Shortly after, he was sold to a circus trainer in New Jersey in the early 1980s. For years, Radcliffe performed in television shows and small traveling circuses, but as he grew larger and stronger, his life became more difficult. After a tense confrontation, his trainer sold him to a small amusement park in New York. Not long after, Radcliffe was sent to JungleLand, a roadside attraction in Central Florida, where he spent a decade confined to a tiny chain-link cage.

When JungleLand shut down, Radcliffe’s life took a turn for the better. The Center for Great Apes stepped in, bringing him, along with chimpanzee Roger, to the sanctuary where he could finally live with the dignity he deserves.

Now the oldest male orangutan at the sanctuary, Radcliffe has a unique appearance. His cheekpads never developed because he was castrated as a juvenile during his circus days, giving him the look of an oversized juvenile orangutan. But don’t let his appearance fool you—Radcliffe is wise beyond his years.

At the sanctuary, Radcliffe has become known for his creativity. He builds nests out of enrichment boxes, tubs, and toys and often sleeps under “tents” and “forts” that he constructs with blankets. He has a particular fondness for rags and bubbles, using them to “clean” his toys, shelves, and even the walls of his nighthouse. On hot days, you’ll find Radcliffe ingeniously creating a continuous stream of water to play in by pushing objects into his drinking fountain.

Radcliffe loves exploring the climbing structures in his 40-foot-tall habitat and frequently roams the woods through the aerial trailways, visiting his fellow orangutans and enjoying his sanctuary life.