No more nuts for Ah Meng

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Ah Meng, an iconic orangutan of the Singapore Zoo who featured in almost 30 travel films and rubbed shoulders with movie stars and royalty, died on Friday of old age, the Singapore Zoo said. She was around 48.

Singapore Zoo will hold a special memorial on Sunday as a tribute to the orangutan, a star at the zoo for the past quarter-century after the "breakfast with Ah Meng" programme was launched, the zoo said in a statement.

"She has touched the hearts of everyone who has met her and contributed immensely in helping promote awareness of how each and every one of us can play a role in anti-poaching, anti-deforestation and conservation matters," said Fanny Lai, group chief executive of Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

"We will miss her dearly."

Reuters