AN orangutan known as the fattest in the world became “morbidly obese” when living as an “illegal pet” for more than a decade.
Oshine tipped the scales at 100kg (15 stone) – more than double her natural weight – after gorging herself on sweets and marshmallows.
Born in the wild, she was captured as a baby and sold into the illegal pet trade.
She eventually ended up living in a private home in South Africa, where she was kept as a pet for 13 years.
During this time, Oshine was overfed and became severely overweight, weighing around 100 kg (220 lbs) – far more than the average female orangutan.
Due to her life in captivity, Oshine developed many unhealthy habits and did not learn the essential skills she would have in the wild, like climbing or foraging.
Her diet consisted of processed foods, which contributed to her obesity and other health issues.
But thanks to a lifestyle change, the 27-year-old ape lost an incredible 20kg (3 stone) in just 11 months – a fifth of her initial body weight.
In 2010, Oshine was rescued and relocated to the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset, England.
There, she was put on a strict diet and exercise regime to help her lose weight and learn to behave more like a wild orangutan.
The staff at Monkey World worked tirelessly to rehabilitate Oshine, helping her to regain her health and learn to climb and socialise with other orangutans.
Over time, Oshine made significant progress.
Oshine lost a fifth of her body weight, started exercising, climbed a 20-metre (66-foot) climbing frame, and even adopted Silvestre, an orphaned baby orangutan, thanks to the efforts of the rescue centre’s keepers.
“With Monkey World’s help, Oshine has turned her life around,” director Alison Cronin told the BBC.
“When she arrived at the rescue centre she was morbidly obese and ran the risk of developing heart disease, blood clots, high blood pressure, and diabetes.”
Ms. Cronin claimed back in 2011 that Oshine was the fattest orangutan in Britain and that all processed foods and sweets that were previously given to her had been taken out by staff.
But she said that Oshine still needed to shed an additional 20 to 30kg (3 to 5 stone) before they would be satisfied with her level of health and fitness.
She told the BBC at the time: “I hope that by the end of this year Oshine will have lost enough weight that we can introduce her to one of our adult groups of orangutans where she will be able to have her own baby, but until she loses more weight it would not be healthy for her.”
The world's fattest animals
THERE have been several real-life animals that gained fame for their extraordinary size and weight.
Here are some of the most famous “fat” animals:
Knut the Polar Bear: Knut was a polar bear born in captivity at the Berlin Zoo in Germany in 2006. He gained international fame as a cub after being hand-raised by zookeepers. However, as he grew, Knut became quite large, partially due to a diet high in fats to mimic his natural diet. Polar bears are naturally large, but Knut’s fame brought attention to his impressive size as he grew into adulthood.
Sammy the Fat Cat: Sammy was a domestic cat who became famous in the UK. He weighed around 41 pounds, making him one of the heaviest cats on record. Sammy’s size was a result of overfeeding and lack of exercise. Sammy’s case brought attention to the issue of pet obesity and led to discussions about proper diet and exercise for pets.
Goliath the Pig: Goliath was a pig who lived in Germany. He weighed over 1,000 pounds, making him one of the largest pigs ever recorded. Goliath became a local celebrity due to his massive size. Goliath’s story highlighted the potential for extreme weight gain in pigs, especially when bred for size.
Katy the Cow: Katy was a dairy cow from Australia. She gained fame for weighing over 2,200 pounds, making her one of the heaviest cows in the world at the time. Katy’s story drew attention to the size potential in dairy cows, especially those bred for milk production.
The Guinness World Record Fatty the Dog: : A dog named Zorba, an English Mastiff, holds the Guinness World Record for the heaviest dog, weighing 343 pounds. Though not “fat” in the unhealthy sense, his massive size made him famous. Zorba’s size was a reminder of the importance of managing the diet and exercise of large breed dogs.