Oldest known Sumatran orangutan dies in Australian zoo aged 62 - leaving 54 descendants

The world's oldest known Sumatran orangutan, an “aloof” female named Puan, has died in an Australian zoo aged 62, leaving behind a world-record 54 descendants.

Known as the “grand old lady” of Perth zoo, Puan, a great-grandmother, was euthanised after developing age-related health complications.

She had 54 descendants, more than any other orangutan in captivity. Of her offspring, 29 remain alive, making up 10 per cent of orangutans in zoos around the world, including in Europe and the United States.

In a heartfelt tribute, Martina Hart, the primate keeper at Perth zoo, described Puan as a matriarch and a “quiet, dignified lady”.

“We all know that life isn’t infinite, but for some reason Puan has always just seemed to be the one who might prove us wrong,” Ms Hart wrote in The West Australian newspaper.

“She really has seen it all, from the jungles of the wild to the old exhibits here at Perth, to our now world class exhibits. It fascinates me as to the stories she could tell.”

Believed to have been born in Sumatra in 1956, Puan arrived in Perth in 1968 after being transferred from the Sultan of Johor’s private zoo. The sultan apparently exchanged her for some Australian animals.

Sumatran orangutans, from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, are a critically endangered animal.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the population of the species has declined significantly due to forest loss, including land clearing for forestry and palm oil production, as well as illegal killing.

Puan was listed in the 2016 Guiness Book of Records as the oldest verified Sumatran orangutan in the world.

Ms Hart said Puan was “aloof” and would tap her foot if her dinner was late or if she was kept inside longer than necessary.

“Puan taught me patience, she taught me that natural and wild instincts never disappear in captivity,” she said.

“I’ll never forget the day we gave her access to a giant fig tree to climb and nest in. Puan hadn’t been in a real tree for over 50 years at that stage, and to be honest my eyes were filled with tears watching her climbing. She was the only one who would nest in the tree itself, instead of taking branches back to the platforms to nest.”

Ms Hart added: “She was in a zoo environment, but to the end she always maintained her independence.”