The Houston Zoo had to say goodbye to the oldest orangutan at the facility after she died unexpectedly.
Cheyenne, who was 52 years old, had an emergency veterinary examination Sunday morning after she came down with a sudden sickness.
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That’s when veterinarians discovered a severe kidney infection. She received treatment for the condition, but she passed away unexpectedly while she was recovering from the exam.
Cheyenne had been at the Houston Zoo since she was 21 years old, and her intelligence and strong will captured the hearts of visitors and zoo staff members over the next three decades.
Her personality made her a great foster parent to multiple young orangutans, and her maternal instincts were an asset to the zoo’s Species Survival Program.
Combined with her incredible maternal patience, she was intelligent and determined, which enabled her to figure out even the most complicated enrichment or task. Sometimes this included dismantling the furniture in her habitat, though she was happy to trade for treats. Cheyenne will be missed by the entire Zoo family,” a portion of the Houston Zoo’s statement announcing Cheyenne’s passing read.
