Death of a Durrell legend

Saturday 16 August 2014

Durrell have announced the sad news that one of their best loved animals – Gina the Orangutan – has died at the age of 51.

Gina died peacefully late on Thursday night.

Durrell announced the news yesterday, paying tribute to the elderly matriarch of their Orangutan tribe who gave birth to and raised six babies in her time here in Jersey.

In their statement they said: “It's with great sadness that we bring you the news that Gina, our elderly matriarch Sumatran orangutan, passed away peacefully late last night.

“Gina came to Durrell in 1968, having been confiscated from smugglers at Singapore Airport.

“She spent 46 of her estimated 51 year life at Durrell, and bore, raised and cared for six precious babies. In recent months, Gina featured in the Channel Four documentary series 'Born in the Wild' – the birth by caesarean section of her last child 'Jaya' and the uncovering of her post-menopausal condition ten years later being a significant part of the orangutan episode.”

Within minutes of the announcement, Durrell’s Facebook page had been flooded with comments from zoo regulars paying tribute to Gina.

Orangutans tend to live up to 45 years in the wild, and up to 50 in captivity.

Picture credit: Durrell