Read the story of Ah Meng ... For many Singaporeans, the Singapore Zoo is synonymous with Ah Meng, the Sumatran orang utan. In 1971, Ah Meng was confiscated from a Chinese family which had illegally kept her as a pet. Subsequently, she found her home in the Singapore Zoo. Ah Meng was the first to host our famous 'Breakfast With An Orang Utan' programme. She soon became a celebrity, both locally and internationally. She has been featured in over 30 travel films and 'interviewed' by more than 300 writers. In 1992, Ah Meng received a special award from the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board, in recognition of her contribution towards tourism in Singapore. Ah Meng also contributed to the Singapore Zoo's captive breeding programme. She has had five children so far and became a grandmother in 1990. Ah Meng’s Birthday Brunch Our beloved Ah Meng turned 46 on 18 June 2006! More than 100 people of all ages and walks of life set aside their precious Sunday morning to celebrate her birthday. Ah Meng was greeted with a loud welcome as everyone sang her a hearty Happy Birthday. No expense was spared as our favourite celebrity was treated with a lavish celebration befitting her contribution to the zoo. Ah Meng had her pick from all her favourite fruits and truly basked in everyone’s attention and love towards her! Thank you for helping us to make this a truly joyous occasion for Ah Meng. Relive those special moments with some of the photos that we took that day! Ah Meng enjoying her yummy birthday presents. Ah Meng shares her fruits with granddaughter, Chomel. Guests queue up to take photos with the birthday girl to remember the special ocassion. Ah Meng with her party guests Not only Ah Meng gets to feast! Our guests are also treated to a choice selection of local delicacies and deserts! REMEMBERING AH MENG 1960 - 2008 Ah Meng, Singapore Zoo’s most famous and well-loved orang utan, passed away on 8 February 2008 due to old age. She was 48 years old. Ah Meng is the first and only non-human recipient of the ‘Special Tourism Ambassador’ award conferred by the then Singapore Tourism Promotion Board in 1992. As an icon for the Zoo, Ah Meng has met numerous foreign dignitaries and celebrities such as Prince Philip, Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor. A devoted mother, Ah Meng leaves behind two sons, two daughters and six grandchildren. To commemorate Ah Meng’s efforts towards generating a greater awareness on the plight of orang utans in the wild, the Singapore Zoo will intensify its conservation work for orang utans. Ah Meng had been reposed at Garden With A View for members of the public wishing to visit her for the last time. TRIBUTE TO AH MENG FAMOUS SPORE ORANG UTAN Above articles were taken from Singapore Zoological's website SPORE ZOO - remembering ah men http://s301.photobucket.com/albums/nn66/babyjay99/?action=view&current=75766c3e.pbw