Passing of the Oldest Orangutan in North America

Rudy Valentino, the oldest male orangutan in North America, passed away at the age of 45 in the Houston Zoo. Jessica Reyes, a spokesperson for the Houston Zoo, stated that Rudy had been taking medication for advanced heart disease but was behaving normally before his death. The orangutan spent time outside his enclosure without showing any signs of lethargy, and his keepers found him unresponsive at the park's closing time. Reyes added, "He was able to enjoy an extra cake before they finished checking the area. Then he went to sleep, and that was it." Rudy shared his habitat with his mate Kelly, a 42-year-old female orangutan. Reyes explained that her team is "monitoring Kelly closely, in case they see any signs of stress or sadness." It is noteworthy that Rudy was born on December 8, 1977, at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, and arrived at the Houston Zoo the following year.