Adelaide Zoo Orangutan Celebrates

His 25th Birthday

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: July 19, 2020 2:30 pm

Photo Credit: Adelaide Zoo

Kluet the Sumatran orangutan at Adelaide Zoo in Australia has celebrated his 25th birthday with a party thrown by his keepers.

Keepers created a range of treats for Kluet as his keeper, Brittney Marangon explained, “This morning Kluet was given enrichment boxes filled with treats including tropical fruits, popcorn, a cosy blanket and his favourite Banana Palm.”

Orangutans are a great ape and are closely related to humans. Kluet makes that obvious with one of his favourite activities being to watch video and look at photos as his keeper explained, “Kluet loves people and definitely has his favourite keepers. He’s also quite the tech lover and enjoys looking at images on my mobile and swipes when he’s ready to move onto the next image. He also loves watching videos of himself, Puspa our female Orangutan and other animals.”

“Kluet definitely knows what he wants. He’s not afraid to let us know when he’s had enough of technology and makes a noise to tell us he’s bored,” finished Brittney.

Photo Credit: Adelaide Zoo

The Sumatran orangutan is sometimes referred to as the ‘old man of the forest.’ Kluet is not quite old yet as he celebrates his 25th birthday, the eldest recorded orangutan in captivity lived to be 62 years old.

Unfortunately in the wild orangutans are not lucky enough to celebrate their birthday. Instead this critically endangered species is facing a fight for survival against the threats of poaching, habitat loss (with palm oil plantations being a significant threat) and agriculture.

ZoosSA (owner of Adelaide Zoo) support field programs in South East Asia helping to protect species such as the orangutan.

Learn more about the orangutan here – Orangutan fact file | The Animal Facts

Learn more about Adelaide Zoo on their website – Adelaide Zoo

Photo Credit: Adelaide Zoo