The world's oldest Sumatran orangutan has died at a zoo in Western Australia.
Puan, the 62-year-old grand dame of Perth Zoo, was put to sleep on Monday after her quality of life rapidly deteriorated due to her advanced years.
"It's always hard to make that decision for any animal, but it was the right decision and a respectful end for an old lady who demanded respect throughout her life," primate supervisor Holly Thompson said on Tuesday.
Zookeeper Martina Hart penned a heartfelt tribute for Puan who, in 2016, was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the oldest living Sumatran orangutan in the world.
"To look at Puan is to look into the eyes of an animal (and I find even saying ‘animal’ to feel slightly disrespectful) who has seen so much in her lifetime that the mind boggles," she wrote.
"She was born in the jungles of Sumatra, and I can only imagine how she would have dealt with being taken from the wild and placed in captivity.
"To arrive at Perth Zoo from the Sultan of Jahore’s private zoo, in 1968, would have been quite the journey for her. She really has seen it all, from the jungles of the wild to the old exhibits here at Perth, to our now world-class exhibits. It fascinates me as to the stories she could tell."
She added: "Puan taught me patience, she taught me that natural and wild instincts never disappear in captivity. She was in a zoo environment, but to the end she always maintained her independence. I feel so grateful to have been in her life, albeit to have been such a small part of her life. But to me, she’ll always remain a big part of my life."
Share
