One of the orangutans at Como Zoo, Amanda, was put to sleep on Saturday after a lump was found in her belly, according to a statement the zoo released on Monday. She was 46.
Mayor Melvin Carter proclaimed Monday Amanda the Orangutan Day in St. Paul in response to the orangutan’s passing.
When Amanda was three years old, she relocated from the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, to the Como Zoo.
The zoo released a statement saying, “With her enormous personality she created connections to our guests and was the subject of numerous images capturing her amazing beauty.” Amanda was well-known for her wit, her good humor, her love of painting and music, and the fact that she frequently took part in the daily animal enrichment activities.
“Amanda acted as an outstanding spokesperson for orangutans in the wild and for orangutan conservation, motivating individuals to become involved with studies and initiatives aimed at preserving orangutans.”
When Amanda’s once-bright personality recently began to fade, a diagnosis was sought.
According to the statement, Amanda was recently immobilized by a team of experts from the University of Minnesota and the zoo’s committed staff in an effort to determine what was causing her recent pain, sluggishness, and inappetence (lack of hunger). “They found a tumor within her that eventually damaged her kidneys over time. Her prognosis for recovery and improvement was quite bad due to the fact that the tumor, which was found in her lower abdomen, was difficult to remove. Her humane euthanasia was decided upon, which was a difficult choice.
The zoo then disclosed that the orangutan was “humanely killed” on Saturday morning in front of her zookeepers.
Staff members and zookeepers are lamenting the loss.
“Amanda was observant, naughty, interesting, and intelligent. Megan Elder, the worldwide orangutan studbook keeper, the Como Zoo’s primate zookeeper, and the coordinator for orangutan species survival, said, “We lost a wonderful spirit. “It’s heartbreaking for me, my coworkers, and everyone who knew, loved, and cared about her. It is not overstatement to claim that she influenced a generation. Without her, Como is difficult to fathom.
Mayor Carter proclaimed Monday to be Amanda the Orangutan Day in St. Paul in honor of the orangutan.
The declaration stated that orangutans are a critically endangered species and are related to gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos. Orangutans typically live about 28 years, but because to advancements in zoo medicine, which now include geriatric care, they are now reaching their 40s and 50s.
As a result of interbreeding between any of the three orangutan species—Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli—Amanda was a hybrid orangutan.
