Orangutan Celebrates Half-Century Birthday As Part of Absolutely Apes Event

Animal care staff at the San Diego Zoo offered the orangutans at the Zoo specially made cupcakes and gifts as part of a birthday celebration for the Zoo's oldest orangutan.  Janey, a Bornean orangutan, turns 50 years old this year, an advanced age for this species.  She arrived at the Zoo in 1984 and has become one of its best-known personalities.

     To celebrate her half-centennial mark, animal care staff have created four days of special treats for the orangutans from February 17 - 20 at 9:30 a.m.  The treats include cupcakes made of folivore biscuits and gelatin frosted with banana baby food.  Decorated gift boxes and bags with sunflower and peanut treats inside will also be given to them to add to the fun.

     Famous for their problem-solving abilities, orangutans are great apes native to Asian rain forests.  They are a critically endangered species, as more than 80% of their native forests have been destroyed.