Abby the orangutan has died. She was 41.
Abigail was her formal name, but to staff and regular visitors of the Toronto Zoo, the venerable Sumatran orangutan was known simply as Abby.
Her life spanned two generations of Toronto zoos. The downtown Riverdale Zoo acquired her in the early 1960s. In July, 1974, as that zoo was about to close, she was moved to the Toronto Zoo, located in the northeast reaches of what was then known as Metropolitan Toronto.
William Rapley, the zoo's executive director of biology and conservation, said in a statement:
"Not only was she an important member of the breeding program for the endangered Sumatran orangutans, she was also a real character, which endeared her to zoo staff and visitors. She will be greatly missed."
Only two years ago Abigail tried her hand at painting.
Zoo staff put poster board in her enclosure and allowed her to paint on it in watercolours. The creations, of the abstract impressionist school, were later sold to raise money for the zoo.
Long the star of the Indomalayan pavilion, Abby was put to death by zoo staff on Dec. 20, but news of her death was not released until yesterday.
Zoo officials said that while the zoo's grande dame had been in good health for most of her life, she had been showing her age for the past year.
Her appetite had waned and she was suffering from kidney failure.
"In view of her deteriorating condition and without any possibility of treatment or recovery, Abby was euthanized on Dec. 20 with all of her zoo family around her," the zoo said.
The lifespan of Sumatran orangutans in their natural habitat is thought to be 30 to 40 years. There are an estimated 10,000 Sumatran orangutans left in the wild.
Abby leaves six offspring, two of whom, Dinar and Sekali, live at the Toronto Zoo.