Dish-Houston

The Houston Zoo just announced the passing of Doc, a Bornean orangutan and a revered member of the Houston Zoo family.  Doc was 27 years old.

            Born at the Dallas Zoo on Christmas Day 1984, Doc came to the Houston Zoo at the age of three as a social companion for a then-adolescent female orangutan, Kelly.  Their companionship resulted in two births, 8 year old Solaris and 5 month old Aurora.  Both Solaris and Aurora live at the Houston Zoo’s Wortham World of Primates orangutan exhibit. 

            “Doc was receiving treatment for cardiomyopathy, a condition in which blood does not flow normally through the heart,” said Houston Zoo Director Rick Barongi. In consultation with Dr. Jose Banchs, Director of Echocardiography at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Zoo veterinarians modified Doc’s diet and he received the same medications a human patient would receive for the condition.  

“Over the past few months his condition worsened and began to adversely affect his quality of life,” said Barongi.  Following a consultation between Zoo administrators, the primate care team and Zoo veterinary staff, Doc was humanely euthanized this afternoon.

            Known for his blustery adult personality, Doc is lovingly remembered by Zoo staff, volunteers, and Zoo guests for his playful relationship with his son Solaris, his skill as an artist and for his two most distinguishing features – his beautiful eyes and his huge hands.  “He had a soft, gentle gaze.  His eyes were sweet and demure as an infant and his gaze stayed the same throughout his lifetime,” said Houston Zoo Assistant Curator of Primates Lynn Killam. 

            Doc’s large hands were gentle instruments of play with his son Solaris.  “Those lucky enough to see it were treated to a sight unknown in the wild – a full grown male orangutan play wrestling with his son,” said Killam.  “They would play for hours, and after a rest Solaris would gingerly pull on Doc’s hair and the game would begin again,” added Killam.

            Doc created beautiful paintings that were exhibited during “Pongos Helping Pongos” art exhibits that raised funds for orangutan conservation.  “Doc was quite contemplative when working on the canvas, using light small strokes with plant leaves that showed his intelligent and gentle nature,” said Killam.

Doc will be missed by all.