‘Feisty Queen’: Zoo Atlanta’s Sumatran orangutan Biji dies at 52

ATLANTA — Zoo Atlanta announced sad news Friday morning, reporting that one of the original members of the Zoo’s great ape population, Biji the Sumatran orangutan, died at the age of 52 while receiving treatment for kidney failure.

Zoo officials said the Animal Care Teams had been treating her for the health issue, but due to her poor prognosis, “made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize” Biji on Friday morning.

According to Zoo Atlanta, Biji’s age was exceptional for her species.

Typically, orangutans are considered geriatric at the age of 40.

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They said her longer life was a testament to the state-of-the-art healthcare provided to Zoo residents, which she herself helped to advance, according to Zoo Atlanta officials.

“Thanks to an extensive positive reinforcement training program which enabled Biji to be part of her own healthcare, she was able to participate in the voluntary blood draws which originally led the Veterinary Team to diagnose her condition nine years ago, and which have helped the teams to manage her kidney disease,” Zoo Atlanta said in a statement.

Sam Rivera, the DVM, VP of Animal Health at Zoo Atlanta said Biji’s early diagnosis helped the medical team learn more about kidney failure in orangutans and helped other orangutans under human care across the United States.

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As one of the founding members of the Zoo Atlanta great ape population, Biji first arrived in 1988 along with a group of orangutans from Emory University’s Yerkes National Primate Research Center.

“Biji was the ultimate incarnation of the intellect, resourcefulness, and adaptability of orangutans. Beneath that surface, she was a huge personality with a goofy side she only showed to those who knew her best,” Jennifer Mickelberg, PhD, VP of Collections and Conservation, said. “She has been an inspiration to decades of Zoo visitors, and it has been our privilege and honor to have been her home for more than 30 years. She has helped all of us, and our visitors, better understand the incredible nature of these amazing apes.”

While most orangutans are solitary in the wild aside from mating or gathering where food resources are plentiful, Zoo officials said Biji was even more solitary, pursuing what they called an independent life.

Biji enjoyed weaving and lounging in her hammock at the Zoo’s outdoor habitat.

“Biji was a special orangutan and will always hold a place in our hearts as our feisty queen,” Jodi Carrigan, Curator of Primates, said.

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