A Sumatran orangutan who lived in various zoos during her life developed a love for people-watching, keepers have said.
Anette, better known as Nettie, whose final home was Jersey Zoo, where she lived for 15 years, was also known as being a “very soft mum” after she gave birth to her baby Jantho in 2013.
Jersey Zoo’s director of operations Mark Habben said Nettie was a notorious people-watcher who was “was intrigued by all the comings and goings and, if anyone came into her enclosure, she observed them all”.
Habben also revealed another soft side of the orangutan, who died earlier this month age 43: “She was a really good mum but probably a bit too soft.”
Habben said it had been amazing to hear all the stories about Nettie from the public, former keepers and vets.
He said: “She was such an incredible ambassador for her species, and an animal who everyone loved.
“The keeper team here all really enjoyed working with her and many great ape keepers cut their teeth working with Nettie.”
Janto and the other apes in Nettie’s group had shown signs of mourning, although they appeared to go through the process quicker than humans, Habben added.