Tonda (orangutan) explained

Tonda
Species:	orangutan
Gender:	female
Death Place:	Panama City Beach, Florida
Known For:	animal odd couple

Tonda (1958 – 23 March 2009) was the oldest orangutan in the United States.Tonda died on March 23, 2009, at ZooWorld in Panama City Beach, Florida, aged 50.^[1]

Biography

Tonda, short for Tondaleyo, died in her sleep at the age of 50. Tonda had represented the oldest registered orangutan in captivity in the United States.

Cultural references

Tonda, along with a male kitten named T.K., had earned a modicum of fame after being named the second-best animal odd couple by Animal Planet. The pair were also the subject of a book, Tonda and TK: Friends.^[2]

See also

• Ah Meng (c. 18 June 1960 — 8 February 2008) — female Sumatran orangutan and a tourism icon of Singapore
• Bonnie — orangutan; began whistling (mimicking an animal caretaker), which is changing ideas about primate sound repertoires.
• Chantek (born 1977) — orangutan; involved with language research and ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador
• List of apes
• Orangutans in popular culture
• Oldest apes

Notes and References

1. News: Tonda the orangutan dies at Florida Panhandle zoo. 9 January 2013. Orlando Sentinel. March 22, 2009.
2. Web site: Book tells story of TK the Cat and friend, Tonda the Orangutan. Arkansas Online. April 12, 2010.