Turkish delight-addicted orangutan becomes obese: Named the world's fattest
An orangutan known as the world's fattest became 'morbidly obese' after being kept as an 'illegal pet' for more than 10 years.
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12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS
An orangutan named Oshine was held illegally as a pet for 10 years. Accustomed to eating sugar and Turkish delight by those who kept her, Oshine exceeded 100 kilograms and became the world's fattest orangutan.
Due to her unhealthy lifestyle, Oshine the orangutan could not learn basic skills she should have possessed in the wild, such as climbing or foraging for food. After years of unhealthy feeding, Oshine was named the world's fattest orangutan.
THOSE WHO BOUGHT HER TO KEEP AT HOME GOT THE ORANGUTAN ADDICTED TO SUGAR
Before being transported to England, the ape lived in a house in South Africa for 13 years with those who had purchased her illegally.
It was determined that after being born in her natural habitat in South Africa, Oshine was seized and sold by animal traffickers.
Eventually starting to live in a private home in South Africa, Oshine was kept as a pet for 13 years.
During this time, Oshine was overfed and became overweight; she reached 100 kg, twice the normal weight of an average female orangutan.
Due to her life in captivity, Oshine developed many unhealthy habits and could not learn basic skills she should have acquired in the wild, such as climbing or foraging.
CHANGED HER LIFESTYLE
However, thanks to the changes made to her lifestyle, the 27-year-old ape lost 20 kilograms in just 11 months.
Oshine was rescued in 2010 and transferred to the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset, England.
Here, she was put on a strict diet and exercise regimen to help her lose weight and learn to behave like a wild orangutan.
In a statement to the press, officials said, 'When she arrived at the rescue center, she was morbidly obese and at risk of developing heart disease, blood clots, high blood pressure, and diabetes.'