Duchess the 52 year old orangutan at the Phoenix Zoo sadly passed away. At the time of her death she was the oldest living orangutan in captivity. She greatly exceeded the lifespan of a wild or captive Orangutan.
Duchess is one of the first residents of the Phoenix Zoo,arriving in early 1962. In those days,zoo industry practices were different from today's standards. Duchess and her eventual mate Ben,frequently left the Zoo to visit area business and participate in fundraisers. Duchess and Ben became very familiar with the human world when they were young.
The Zoo's current state-of-the-art orangutan exhibit was opened in 2011. My mom who has volunteered at the zoo for 21 years was concerned that Duchess would not have the opportunity to live in this new facility. She prayed that Duchess would live long enough to enjoy that luxury and she did! Duchess touched the lives of so many people. She was a very intelligent,entertaining and compassionate animal. You can see a celebration of Duchess's Life @ The Phoenix Zoo Facebook page. She will be missed!
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| Duchess |
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| 3 generations. From left to right Bess (Duchess's daughter)Kasih (Duchess's granddaughter) and Duchess. Bess is Duchess's last offspring. |
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| Thank you Duchess! |
1 comment:
This is a wonderful post. It is a beautiful tribute to Duchess. She was so special and I will miss her. She was my friend and a favorite throughout my entire volunteer experience. I can't imagine the zoo without her enchanting presence but her legacy will continue there for our enjoyment.
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