Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
U.S. orangutan Chantek, 'the ape who went to college,' dies at 39
Source: Reuters
#ENVIRONMENT AUGUST 7, 2017 / 8:35 PM / 9 HOURS AGO
U.S. orangutan Chantek, 'the ape who went to college,' dies at 39
David Beasley
3 MIN READ
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Chantek, a male orangutan who was among the first apes to learn sign language, could clean his room and memorized the way to a fast-food restaurant, died on Monday at age 39, Zoo Atlanta said.
Chantek, who was taught by a trainer who raised him like her own child, was being treated for heart disease, the zoo said in a statement. A necropsy will determine the cause of death.
"Chantek will be deeply missed by his family here at Zoo Atlanta. He had such a unique and engaging personality and special ways of relating to and communicating with those who knew him best," said Hayley Murphy, vice president of the zoo's animal divisions.
Chantek, one of the oldest male orangutans in North American zoos, was born at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center in Atlanta. He was sent to live with anthropologist Lyn Miles at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for about nine years.
-snip-
U.S. orangutan Chantek, 'the ape who went to college,' dies at 39
David Beasley
3 MIN READ
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Chantek, a male orangutan who was among the first apes to learn sign language, could clean his room and memorized the way to a fast-food restaurant, died on Monday at age 39, Zoo Atlanta said.
Chantek, who was taught by a trainer who raised him like her own child, was being treated for heart disease, the zoo said in a statement. A necropsy will determine the cause of death.
"Chantek will be deeply missed by his family here at Zoo Atlanta. He had such a unique and engaging personality and special ways of relating to and communicating with those who knew him best," said Hayley Murphy, vice president of the zoo's animal divisions.
Chantek, one of the oldest male orangutans in North American zoos, was born at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center in Atlanta. He was sent to live with anthropologist Lyn Miles at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for about nine years.
-snip-
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-georgia-orangutan-idUSKBN1AO01N
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
Trumpty-Dumpty would never have such a cute name as Chantek. Although, I wonder if Dr. Miles could teach him better communication skills through signing. 
