Barang: India’s sole orangutan, Binny breathes her last in Nandankanan Zoological Park, here at 9:40 pm last night.

Her death has resulted in the extinction of orangutan species in the country.

According to sources, old age and long term illness led to the mammal’s death. However, her cause of death will be ascertained after autopsy today, said Nandankanan Deputy Director Jayant Das.

She was undergoing treatment for infected wound on her throat since the last two years. Veterinary doctors of OUAT were treating her wound as per the advise of veterinary specialists of England and Singapore. Her medical care was being overseen by OUAT’s Professor Niranjan Sahoo and chief of Surgery Department Dr. Indramani Nath and their team.

Reportedly, her health condition was deteriorating since the last couple of days. Binny was suffering from fever and cold and had trouble breathing. The 41-year-old was kept in enclosure 60 (B) where she slept most of the time due to multiple ailments.

Binny was brought to Nandankanan from Pune’s Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park on November 20, 2003 when she was only 25 years old. Since then she has been staying at Nandankanan alone as the authorities could not bring a partner for her.