PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. — T.K., the feline companion to ZooWorld's Sumatran orangutan Tonda, slept under a desk Friday afternoon while word of Tonda's passing spread.
"She was an older lady, and we have been keeping a close eye on her," said Stephanie Willard, director of education at ZooWorld.
Tonda, short for Tondaleyo, died in her sleep Friday morning.
Old age finally caught up with her, Willard said.
Tonda came to ZooWorld in 1998 from a zoo in Omaha, Neb., as a mate for a male orangutan. After her mate's death three years ago, Tonda befriended a kitten. The cat was named T.K. for Tonda's Kitty.
T.K. was a stray tabby who was introduced to Tonda after she fell into a depression.
"Right now (T.K.) is sacked out in my office," Willard said. "He will be staying in the ZooWorld family, somehow."
Tonda celebrated her 50th birthday in February. She was one of the oldest U.S. registered orangutans in captivity.
"Tonda had a previous medical history of air sacculitis, a chronic problem," she said. Air sacculitis is often an extension of chronic respiratory infections.
Tonda and T.K. were featured as No. 2 among Animal Planet's top seven animal odd couples. Since the pair became friends, they have appeared on "Good Morning America" and Japanese television.
Flowers and cards can be dropped off at ZooWorld to be displayed on the island where Tonda spent the last 11 years of her life. Plans for how to deal with Tonda's remains are under way and have not been announced.
There is a possibility of a memorial of some type that might be placed on the island in the future, Willard said.