The orangutan who used Tinder dies aged 45
SIBU, a 45-year-old orangutan and a muchloved ‘character’ at Dublin Zoo, has died.
The Bornean orangutan, one of a critically endangered species, first arrived at the zoo 40 years ago, and became an instantly recognisable figure.
In 2020, he took part in a ‘Tinder’ project to help orangutans find a mate, in which he had a touchscreen tablet and was shown pictures of females of the same species.
The project was designed to help researchers understand what orangutans found attractive, to keep zoo populations self-sustaining while the animals in the wild dwindled.
The well-loved animal’s death was confirmed by the zoo yesterday.
‘Dublin Zoo is deeply saddened to announce that Sibu, our beloved male orangutan, has died. He was 45 years old,’ it said in a statement.
‘Everyone in Dublin Zoo is devastated by the loss of Sibu, who has been an iconic figure at the zoo since he first arrived 40 years ago this year.
‘He was gentle, caring and highly intelligent, forming strong bonds with the keepers who cared for him.
‘His absence will be felt by the whole team, and undoubtedly by the millions of visitors who were fortunate enough to see him over the years.’
When he turned 40, in November 2018, the zoo invited visitors to post their best pictures of Sibu, saying ‘the older the better’. Almost 70 people shared their memories,
‘Gentle, caring and intelligent’
calling him a ‘legend’.
Last night, Sibu’s fans paid tribute, with many saying they had seen him only recently, ‘peeping through the bars’.
One person wrote: ‘Sad news, such a lovely character to see on our visit!’
Another commented: ‘What a legend. He left a great legacy and will be greatly missed.’
Another added: ‘Very sad to see this, he was my absolute favourite.’