Rudy, the oldest orangutan in North America, has died at the age of 45

Rudy Valentino, the oldest male orangutan in North America, died at the Houston Zoo at the age of 45.



Houston Zoo spokeswoman Jessica Reyes said Rudy had been taking medication for an advanced heart condition but had been behaving normally before his death on Tuesday.



The orangutan spent time outside in its habitat without showing any signs of slowing down.



Reyes said his guards found him unresponsive to them at closing time.



"He managed to get an extra cake before they finished checking out. Then he went to sleep, and then it was over," she added.



Rudy shared his home with his companion, Kelly, a 42-year-old female orangutan.



"We're watching Kelly very closely," Reyes said. "For any signs of stress or sadness."



Born on December 8, 1977, at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, Rudy arrived at the Houston Zoo the following year.



Orangutans are endangered great apes and are found in the wild only on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia.



Orangutans live between 30 and 40 years in nature, according to National Geographic.



Four orangutans now live at the Houston Zoo, including a 50-year-old female named Cheyenne.



Reyes said heart disease is a common health problem in orangutans, especially males, who don't usually live longer than females.

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