Bornean orangutan Miri makes Dublin debut

Dublin Zoo has announced the arrival of Miri, a 34-year-old female Bornean orangutan. She arrived from Duisburg Zoo in Germany in July and has been settling in well, forming a friendship with 20-year-old Mujur, the other female Bornean orangutan in the zoo’s Orangutan Rainforest.

Visitors have been catching their first glimpses of Miri in recent weeks. Her preferred spot is high in the treetops of the habitat. Her arrival marks the first step in rebuilding the orangutan group at Dublin Zoo, following the deaths of the zoo’s long-time pair Sibu and Leonie in 2024 and 2025.

Sibu and Leonie were inseparable for more than 40 years, and their loss has been deeply felt by staff, volunteers and visitors. To honour their legacy, the zoo commissioned Wexford-based artist James Kirwan to create a mural in their memory. Completed in four days, the mural is located opposite the Orangutan Rainforest and depicts Sibu and Leonie side by side.

To mark World Orangutan Day on August 19th, Dublin Zoo will offer a 25 per cent discount on adult, child and family tickets for visitors wearing orange between August 15th and 19th. The same discount applies to those who pre-book for these dates using the code ORANG25 at dublinzoo.ie.

From Friday August 15th to Sunday August 17th, between 11am and 4pm, volunteers will host a range of orangutan-themed STEM activities. These will include building a canopy nest, measuring up to a fully grown orangutan, taking part in rainforest experiments and exploring how consumer choices affect Bornean rainforests.

Ciarán McMahon, team leader at Dublin Zoo, said Miri had already made a strong impression. “Welcoming Miri to Dublin Zoo is a truly special moment. We hope she will play a central role in shaping our new Bornean orangutan family, even as we remember Sibu and Leonie, the iconic pair who were at the heart of our orangutan group for more than 40 years. Since her arrival, Miri has settled in wonderfully and is already forming a close bond with Mujur. She is an impressive character with a strong personality and we are excited for visitors to meet her and see her shine in the weeks and months ahead.”