During his two years at Orana Park, Charlie the orangutan was a poignant figure of quiet intelligence and profound solitude. Confined within his concrete and glass enclosure, the world outside was a mere spectacle. Charlie the orangutan was one of three orangutans transferred from Auckland Zoo to Orana Wildlife Park in 2017 for a two-year stay while Auckland Zoo built a new habitat for its orangutans. He was part of a collaboration between Auckland Zoo and Orana Wildlife Park and has since returned to Auckland Zoo to live in the new, state-of-the-art habitat. Charlie is a living symbol of the complex ethical landscape surrounding captive wildlife, a dignified being whose very existence speaks volumes about loss and resilience.