 | Whistling orangutan
Bonnie is the first-known orangutan to imitate a sound from a human's vocal repertoire.
Play Video |  | Apes Helping Apes video
Bonobos and orangutans at Great Ape Trust enjoy the enrichment provided by painting.
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 | Nyota's Dental Procedure
Veterinary dentist Dr. Pierre Tung, assisted by the Trust's vets, performed a dental procedure on Nyota October 29. The 10-year-old bonobo fractured a portion of his upper jaw while roughhousing with another ape. Dr. Tung describes the injury and the care provided by the veterinary team.
Play Video |  | Rocky and Knobi explore forest yard
A 3-acre forest yard was completed this fall at Great Ape Trust. Knobi and Rocky were the first residents to explore the area.
Play Video |  | Azy's first venture into forest yard
Azy, the patriarch of the orangutan group at Great Ape Trust of Iowa, explored the new 3-acre forest yard for the first time on October 30, 2008.
Play Video |  | Popi settles in at new home
Popi, 37, headlined a Las Vegas floor show and was one of the orangutans who starred opposite Clint Eastwood in the 1980 blockbuster Any Which Way You Can. Director of Orangutan Research Dr. Rob Shumaker describes Popi as "gentle, sweet, shy and unbelievably resilient."
Play Video |  | Insights Through Collaborations with Apes (Overview)
Great Ape Trust is dedicated to providing an honorable life to our resident great apes, studying great ape intelligence and behavior, advancing the conservation of great apes and providing unqiue educational experiences about great apes.
Play Video |  | Mission: Scientific Study of Great Apes
Great Ape Trust has a four-part mission of conservation, education, great ape well-being and scientific research. Specifically, the science of Great Ape Trust seeks to understand the future and origins of culture, language, tools and intelligence.
Play Video |  | Mission: Conservation of Great Apes
The Trust has supported dozens of conservation initiatives in ape-range countries throughout the world and most recently has focused on a reforestation and chimpanzee field site in Rwanda and orangutan studies in Sumatra.
Play Video |  | Mission: Providing Unique Educational Experiences
Great Ape Trust is recognized as an important resource for education and research by students and faculty within the state of Iowa and beyond. The Trust has developed academic relationships with leading universities, colleges and scientific research organziations.
Play Video |  | Mission: Great Ape Well-Being
Providing an honorable life to great apes is one of the tenets of Great Ape Trust's mission. It is also the basis for a distinct scientific process inherent on our campus: Insights through collaborations with apes.
Play Video |  | Bonobos explore outdoor yard
Following the Floods of '08, the bonobo yard at Great Ape Trust was restored in September. The bonobos enjoy the opportunity to venture into the yard to play, explore, groom and search for food placed in the yard by caretakers.
Play Video |  | Forest of Hope
The Gishwati Area Conservation Program will create a 30-mile "forest of hope" in an attempt to save endangered chimpanzees and improve the lives of their human nieghbors.
Play Video |  | Katy Enjoys Her New Life at Great Ape Trust
Katy, a former entertainment orangutan in Los Angeles moved to Great Ape Trust in July. Her arrival, along with her son Rocky, has exponentially increased social opportunities for all five orangutans now living at The Trust.
Play Video |  | Rocky and Knobi: A Special Bond
One of Great Ape Trust's newest residents, Rocky, has had a very successful and smooth introduction to the other orangutans. At 4-years-old, Rocky has developed a very close relationship with Knobi, a 29-year-old female.
Play Video |  | Katy Settles In
Katy, a 19-year-old female orangutan, was relocated to Great Ape Trust of Iowa from the Los Angeles area. She's among the first of eight additional orangutans who will be transferred to Des Moines.
Play Video |  | Meet Rocky
Rocky - The most visible orangutan in entertainment today, young Rocky has been transferred to Great Ape Trust from Los Angeles. He will become part of The Trust's non-invasive scientific research program into ape intelligence and behavior.
Play Video |  | Orangutan Arrival
Two entertainment orangutans from the Los Angeles area are now part of Great Ape Trust of Iowa. Dr. Robert Shumaker, director of orangutan research talks about the arrival of Katy and Rocky.
Play Video |  | Scientific Research Opportunities
The arrival of entertainment orangutans from the Los Angeles area means additional scientific research opportunities at Great Ape Trust of Iowa. Dr. Robert Shumaker discusses the importance of this expansion.
Play Video |  | Apes in Entertainment
A group of entertainment orangutans is being relocated from the Los Angeles area to Great Ape Trust. Dr. Robert Shumaker, director of orangutan research at The Trust says this begins to close the curtain in the U.S. on the use of orangutans in films, commercials and advertisements.
Play Video |  | Floods of '08: Orangutans
The Floods of '08 swamped the orangutan outdoor enclosure on June 11. With pitchforks, rakes and their hands, staff and volunteers removed tons of wet, muddy straw and replaced it with fresh bedding. On June 23, the orangutans returned to their outdoor home.
Play Video |  | Ape Homes Restored
In what can only be described as a monumental effort by staff members, the orangutan and bonobo homes were cleaned to their original condition by June 17. Just several days earlier, water had crested 2-3 feet high in the buildings.
Play Video |  | Flood Cleanup Begins
Recovery efforts from the Floods of '08 began at Great Ape Trust of Iowa on June 14th. Throughout it all, the bonobos and orangutans came through the ordeal in excellent condition.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust: Flood of 08
This tour of the Great Ape Trust campus shows the crest of the flood on Friday, June 13. Floodwaters covered our entire 230 acre campus and reached 2-3 feet in the bonobo and orangutan homes. The apes, however, were always safe and dry.
Play Video |  | Senator Tom Harkin Addresses Decade of the Mind III Attendees
Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) welcomed attendees to Decade of the Mind III: Emergence of Mind with this video taped message.
Play Video |  | Dr. Giulio Tononi – Decade of the Mind III
The symposium's keynote address entitled Consciousness and the Brain, was presented by Dr. Giulio Tononi, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin.
Play Video |  | Dr. James Olds – Decade of the Mind III
Dr. James Olds, director of the Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study of George Mason University presented, Decade of the Mind: The Spirit of Vannevar Bush.
Play Video |  | Dr. Roger K.R. Thompson – Decade of the Mind III
A Natural History of "the Mind," was presented by Dr. Roger K. R. Thompson, the Dr. E. Paul & Frances H. Reiff Professor at Franklin & Marshall College.
Play Video |  | Dr. Colin Allen – Decade of the Mind III
Dr. Colin Allen, Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Indiana University presented How Hard is the Science of Animal Minds?
Play Video |  | Dr. Kathy Schick and Dr. Nicholas Toth – Decade of the Mind III
Dr. Kathy Schick and Dr. Nicholas Toth co-directors of Stone Age Institute in Bloomington, Indiana, presented The Human Mind Evolving.
Play Video |  | Dr. Anne Russon – Decade of the Mind III
The Evolution of Thought: Evolutionary Origins of Great Ape Intelligence was presented by Dr. Anne Russon, Department of Psychology, Glendon College of York University, Toronto, Ontario.
Play Video |  | Dr. Tetsuro Matsuzawa – Decade of the Mind III
Dr. Tetsuro Matsuzawa’s address, Chimpanzee Mind: A Combining Effort of Fieldwork and Laboratory Work, began the Friday session at Decade of the Mind III. Dr. Matsuzawa is with the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University.
Play Video |  | Dr. Robert Seyfarth – Decade of the Mind III
Baboon Metaphysics: The Evolution of a Social Mind was presented by Dr. Robert Seyfarth, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania.
Play Video |  | Dr. Merlin Donald – Decade of the Mind III
Dr. Merlin Donald, Department of Psychology, Queen’s University at Kingston, Ontario, concluded the conference with his presentation, The Consciousness Club.
Play Video |  | Artist Sue Buck gains her own 'insights through collaborations with apes'
Art professor Sue Buck has produced critically acclaimed art works of great apes. In spring 2008, she visited Great Ape Trust to begin work on pastels of Allie and Nyota and to collaborate on paintings with the orangutans and bonobos.
Play Video |  | Conservation Park and Chimpanzee Study Site Planned in Rwanda
The Rwandan government, Great Ape Trust of Iowa and Earthpark have announced that the Gishwati Forest Reserve is the future site of the Rwanda National Conservation Park.
Play Video Podcast Available |  | Learning from Great Apes
Great Ape Trust of Iowa's education initiative is giving Des Moines middle school students the chance to look over the shoulder of world-renowned scientists.
Play Video |  | Townsend Outlines Partnership with ISU
Great Ape Trust Founder and Chairman, Ted Townsend, outlines the partnership with Iowa State University that will create the world's pre-eminent collaboration for primate studies.
Play Video |  | ISU President Geoffroy on Educational Opportunities
Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy discusses the scientific and academic opportunities created by a new collaboration with Great Ape Trust of Iowa.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust Academy - Part 1
Great Ape Trust Founder, Ted Townsend comments about Great Ape Academy, an educational pilot project in the Des Moines Public School System.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust Academy - Part 2
Dr. Nancy Sebring, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, outlines what Great Ape Academy will mean to Des Moines middle school students.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust Academy - Part 3
Great Ape Trust Founder, Ted Townsend comments about Great Ape Academy, an educational pilot project in the Des Moines Public School System.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust Academy - Part 4
Founder Ted Townsend introduces scientist William Fields, director of the bonobo research program at Great Ape Trust. Fields talks about the bonobos' reaction to Great Ape Academy.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust Academy - Part 5
Dr. Robert Shumaker, director of orangutan research at Great Ape Trust, discusses the importance of Great Ape Academy.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust Academy - Part 6
Great Ape Trust Founder, Ted Townsend comments about Great Ape Academy, an educational pilot project in the Des Moines Public School System.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust Academy - Part 7
Dr. Nancy Sebring, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, outlines what Great Ape Academy will mean to Des Moines middle school students.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust Academy - Part 8
Great Ape Trust Founder, Ted Townsend comments about Great Ape Academy, an educational pilot project in the Des Moines Public School System.
Play Video |  | Great Ape Trust, Des Moines Schools Team in Unique Curriculum
Great Ape Trust of Iowa and Des Moines Public Schools have teamed to create Great Ape Academy, the only public education program of its kind in the world.
Play Video |  | DNR Releases Trumpeter Swans at Great Ape Trust
Two trumpeter swans have a new home at Great Ape Trust of Iowa and after they’ve had a chance to settle in, they’ll soon have new names, thanks to their bonobo neighbors.
Play Video Podcast Available |  | Petlowany One on One (Clip #4)
The artist often sculpts animals...including orangutans who he appreciates for their distinctiveness.
Play Video |  | Petlowany One on One (Clip #3)
Petlowany describes his approach to carving a body out of stone.
Play Video |  | Petlowany One on One (Clip #2)
Petlowany says the first step in carving is to learn about the stone…and then picture the subject in it.
Play Video |  | Petlowany One on One (Clip #1)
Artist David Petlowany discusses the art of stone carving.
Play Video |  | From Pastels to Panbanisha (Clip #6)
What would Sue BUck like her work to convey?
Play Video |  | From Pastels to Panbanisha (Clip #5)
Sue talks about her beginnings in ape art.
Play Video |  | From Pastels to Panbanisha (Clip #4)
She discusses her interest in orangutans and Great Ape Trust.
Play Video |  | From Pastels to Panbanisha (Clip #3)
Sue Buck's art comes in many forms.
Play Video |  | From Pastels to Panbanisha (Clip #2)
Art has helped Sue understand her relationship to the world.
Play Video |  | From Pastels to Panbanisha (Clip #1)
Artist Sue Buck talks about her work and what great apes have meant in her life.
Play Video |  | From Pastels to Panbanisha (Full Version)
Artist Sue Buck talks about her work and what great apes have meant in her life.
Play Video |  | Eric Montoya
Eric Montoya discusses his experience at Great Ape Trust and his unique style of painting.
Play Video |  | Sculpting Azy
Ohio artist David Petlowany sculpted Azy, an adult male orangutan at Great Ape Trust, out of a 13 ton block of Indiana limestone. While it was nearly one year in the making, you can view its creation in just under 60 seconds.
Play Video |  | Orangutan Building Information
An animated tour of Azy, Knobi and Allie's home.
Play Video Podcast Available |  | Tour the Bonobos’ Home
This animated tour of the bonobo scientific research center at Great Ape Trust of Iowa shows the greenhouse, the special viewing area inside the main entrance and the climbing towers.
Play Video Podcast Available |  | Senator Calls Visit to Trust "Amazing"
For U.S. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa one word best described his visit to Great Ape Trust: "amazing."
Play Video |  | Creating a Work of Art
David Petlowany began with a 13 ton block of limestone, an orangutan and an idea.
Play Video Podcast Available |  | Great Ape Trust Has a Home
Situated on 200 acres five miles southeast of downtown Des Moines, Great Ape Trust offers the great apes a unique experience of woods, water, earth and sky.
Play Video |  | Experience a New Reality
You may learn more about our mission and the future development of Great Ape Trust, by viewing a 4 1/2 minute video, entitled Experience a New Realty.
Play Video Podcast Available |  | Animated Tour
Take a two minute video and animated aerial tour of the Great Ape Trust campus.
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Great Ape Trust is certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums
