ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Seneca Park Zoo's three Bornean orangutans will be moving to other zoos in preparation of the main zoo building's demolition later this year.

The demolition will pave the way for a new, state of the art tropics complex to be built in the next phase of the zoo transformation.

"While it's very sad to say goodbye to Denda, Kumang and Bella, we are very happy that they are moving to zoos where they will have modern habitats rather than the ones in the antiquated main zoo building," said zoo director Larry Sorel in a statement.

The zoo is in the midst of a multi-year transformation that includes two new openings in 2018: the beginnings of a Cold Asia area that will incorporate a new rad panda and snow leopard exhibits opens in May and a 4.5 acre expansion to the Step Into Africa exhibit featuring giraffes, zebras and more will also open later this summer.

The zoo invites the public to visit, celebrate and say goodbye to the orangutans before they depart.