Orangutan Nettie was a 'notorious people-watcher'

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.

"They do go through a grieving process but, in a visible perspective, they are going through it much faster than humans. They have their moment to come and see her and then move on.

"Their survival instinct to crack on with life is dominant and they are now out doing what they love to do."

Habben said the zoo had closed the ape house for a while out of respect "to allow animals and staff some time" but it had now reopened.

"Now everyone is keen to talk about her, remember her and share amazing stories," he said.

Nettie was born at Tierpark Berlin in Germany in 1983.

She arrived at Jersey Zoo in 2011 after living at Duisburg Zoo. She gave birth to Jantho in 2013 with her partner, Dagu.

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