Rest in Peace, Urban: Beloved Orangutan At Sacramento Zoo Dies
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Photo by Allison Boyer
Photo by Allison Boyer
Photo by Allison Boyer
A beloved primate at the Sacramento Zoo has died. The 28-year-old Sumatran orangutan named “Urban” died on Wednesday night as a result of a disease that affected his neuromuscular system, rendering his legs useless and making him extremely weak.
Urban contracted the disease a few weeks ago. He was evaluated at the zoo and then transported to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital where he was extensively tested. His condition deteriorated until Wednesday when he died.
Urban was born at the zoo on Feb. 18, 1981 and will be missed by the zoo and its patrons. “We had the great pleasure of watching Urban grow up at the Sacramento Zoo. He was a magnificent orangutan and will be greatly missed,” said Jim Schnormeier, Zoo Curator.
Source: http://cbs13.com/local/sacramento.orangutan.zoo.2.946408.html
March 6th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
That is so sad; he looks such a truely gorgeous creature.
March 6th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
It’s so sad when these big guys die…. They’re such amazing spirits. True kings of the forest who somehow ended up far from home… I really wish I’d had the chance to see Urban in person… One of our young supporters, Allie Boyer, was quite fond of him… Those are her pictures!