ST PAUL, Minn. — The Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul is mourning the death of a decades-long resident, a 46-year-old orangutan named Amanda.
According to the zoo, Amanda was humanely euthanized Saturday after a team of staff and University of Minnesota specialists located a mass that was causing chronic damage to her kidneys and was too difficult to remove.
"Amanda was a known for her intelligence, playful personality, and love of painting and listening to music, and she was a frequent participant in the regular animal enrichment programs," Como Park Zoo wrote in a Facebook post Monday. "Amanda served as an incredible ambassador for orangutans in the wild and orangutan conservation, inspiring many to get involved with research and programs that worked to protect orangutans."
The female orangutan arrived in Minnesota at the age of 3 from Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, and was "one of Como's most loved animals" over the past four decades, according to the zoo.
“Amanda was curious, mischievous, engaging, and smart. We lost a beautiful soul," said Megan Elder, the primate zookeeper at Como Zoo. “It’s crushing for me, my co-workers, and all that knew her, cared for her, and loved her. It’s no exaggeration to say she inspired generations. It’s hard to imagine Como without her”.
In honor of Amanda, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter declared Dec. 19, 2022, "Amanda the Orangutan Day."
Orangutans, which are found in the wild in Southeast Asia, are considered a critically endangered species and have a median life expectancy of about 28 years. According to Como, some animals now live into their 40s and 50s because of evolved medicine and geriatric care.
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