Sandra, Matriarch Orangutan, 51, Dies in Sleep at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
December 17, 2007
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo - Press Release
December 17, 2007 – Sandra, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s 51-year-old matriarch Sumatran orangutan, was found dead in her exhibit this morning. The Zoo’s Director of Animal Collections, Tracy Leeds, said it appeared that Sandra died in her sleep; she was found this morning in a comfortable sleeping position. A necropsy to determine the cause of death will be performed later today by Dr. Brigitte Mercier, the Zoo’s staff veterinarian.
Sandra was the seventh oldest orangutan in any zoo in the world and the third oldest in the U.S. Any age above 40 years is considered geriatric for primates such as orangutans. Wild born on the island of Sumatra in May of 1956, Sandra came to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in 1963 and had lived through many Zoo (and U.S. presidential) administrations.
In another reminder of the ever-changing “circle of life,” Sandra had recently been introduced to Mahal, the Zoo’s Bornean orangutan born in February. Mahal had been hand-reared since birth by a corps of human caregivers after his biological mother, Hadiah, would not care for him. Within the last month or so, primate keepers had begun to do introductions of Mahal with both Hadiah and matriarch Sandra. Sandra immediately took to the ten-month-old orangutan and the two had become inseparable. Though arthritis had slowed her activities, keepers had observed a renewed energy in Sandra and a sense of contentment in her relationship with little Mahal. In the last few weeks, keepers were again attempting re-introductions between Hadiah and Mahal with the hope that the two would bond. Those introductions will obviously continue.
“We can take comfort in the fact that Sandra had the best of care during her extended time at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo,” stated Dina Bredahl, primate area supervisor. “She not only had nine offspring of her own during her full life, but she had recently taken on surrogate mother duties with Mahal, our orangutan baby. She appeared to be very excited and happy with her new baby. After nine of her own, it was obvious that Sandra loved being a mom. Life was good for her to the end. She will be deeply missed by guests and staff alike.”
Sandra’s ninth offspring, female Sumagu, resides at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Sumagu gave birth nearly five years ago to young Makan, who has become another favorite of CMZoo visitors.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has two species of orangutan in its collection: Sumatran and Bornean. The primates are the largest tree-climbing mammal and the only great ape found in Asia.
Orangutans are critically endangered in the wild. The spread of palm oil plantations and illegal logging of Indonesian rainforests are impacting these intelligent apes at an alarming rate. Several conservation organizations have indicated that orangutans could be extinct in as few as ten years.
Zoo visitors are encouraged to celebrate Sandra’s life with personal remembrances on-line at cmzoo.org, in a letter, or personally at the Zoo with Primate World staff.
In its 81st year of operation, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is open every day of the year and is home to more than 800 animals representing approximately 142 species, 30 of which are endangered.
Please visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s tribute page to Sandra.
