Orangutan That Used Sign Language Dies At Zoo Atlanta
Alan Mothner / associated press file
An orangutan who communicated with researchers using sign language has died at Zoo Atlanta. Chantek was 39.
On its website, Zoo Atlanta says Chantek died Monday. The cause of death isn’t known, but the zoo says veterinarians had been treating him for progressive heart disease.
Chantek came to the zoo in 1997 at the age of 19.
Sad news: @ZooATL family mourns passing of Chantek the orangutan. Full story here: https://t.co/P9LFQYF60E pic.twitter.com/3KtbZ5Zifc— Zoo Atlanta (@ZooATL) August 7, 2017
He was born at Atlanta’s Yerkes Language Research Center and spent nine years living with researchers at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Researchers raised him like a human child and taught him at least 150 words in American Sign Language. He was taught other human skills such as using a bathroom and cleaning his room.
Zoo Atlanta says Chantek was given a “naturalistic” living environment with other orangutans once he arrived there.
A post-mortem exam of the ape is scheduled to be performed.
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