LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Zoo is mourning the loss of one if its most beloved animals. Teak, a 36-year-old orangutan, was euthanized on Tuesday after a multi-year battle with heart disease.
Teak had been receiving ongoing treatment for his heart condition, but in the past two years, zoo officials said his cardiac function was deteriorating and had progressed to cardiac failure.
Norton Healthcare Cardiologist D. Joe Lash worked with the Zoo's Animal Care Team and veterinarians to oversee Teak's heart care. Once diagnosed, Teak was prescribed the same medications as those used in humans.
Teak's condition was compounded by a chronic respiratory illness known as Orangutan Respiratory Disease Syndrome (ORDS). Officials said he was taking daily nebulizer treatments to manage the illness.
"End of life decisions are always difficult, especially with a charismatic animal like Teak," Senior Staff Veterinarian Dr. Zoli Gyimesi said on Wednesday. "But his welfare and quality of life was always our highest priority throughout his care."
If you are looking to honor Teak's life, the Zoo encourages the community to purchase products that use sustainable palm oil to protect orangutan habitats.
Wild places for orangutans are being disrupted by rainforest destruction due to palm oil harvesting. The zoo recommended using the "PalmOil Scan" app by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to identify sustainable products.
Teak's legacy
Teak, a Sumatran/Bornean hybrid orangutan, was born on Nov. 21, 1987 at the Como Zoo in St. Paul, Minnesota. He came to Louisville from the Columbus Zoo, along with his half-sister Amber, in 1996.
The two were featured on the David Letterman show with Jack Hanna in 1988.
Louisville Zoo Director Dan Maloney called Teak was an "undeniable celebrity" at the Zoo.
"His remarkable personality made him a wonderful ambassador for his species, inspiring visitors of all ages to care about wildlife," Maloney said. "While our staff feels the loss of any animal resident, we recognize the passing of Teak resonates as profoundly with our wider community as well."
Zoo officials said valuable information learned about Teak's heart condition will be shared with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Great Ape Heart Project (GAHP). The GAHP works to compile critical cardiac data on all four great ape species, and the team helps offer advice and support to zoos when experiencing such conditions with their apes.
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