ZooWorld odd couple takes international fame in stride

PANAMA CITY BEACH - The pair emerged from a bungalow blinking into the sun, unaware they were one of the most famous couples in the world.
   
The cat looked a little bored and stretched lazily. The great ape just looked a little wise.
   
The strange duo at Panama City Beach's ZooWorld, recently featured as No. 2 among Animal Planet's top seven animal odd couples, could be just another star twosome out for a stroll.
   
Tonda, a Sumatran orangutan who will turn 50 in February, is the oldest U.S. registered orangutan in captivity, said Stephanie Willard, ZooWorld's director of education.
   
Her companion of the last three years, T.K., short for "Tonda's kitty," might have helped get her there.
   
Since being introduced, they have been featured on ABC's "Good Morning America" and Japanese television. The zoo has received calls about the dynamic duo from as far away as South America and Denmark.
   
The recent recognition from Animal Planet was their latest success.
   
When Tonda, short for Tondaleyo, lost her mate Yakut three years ago, she began to lose interest in life and took a turn for the worse, Willard said.
   
"The smarter they are, the more easily they get bored and depressed," Willard said.
   
Tonda was brought to the zoo 11 years ago on permanent loan from the St. Louis Zoo as a mate for Yakut, Willard said.
   
When the male died, the ducks and turtles surrounding her man-made island failed to keep Tonda's attention, and a search for an orangutan companion was unsuccessful.
   
"Our caretaker has the task of seeing that our animals have companionship," Willard said. "But some animals are quite costly, and at her age it was hard to ship her somewhere else."
   
Willard said she recalled the story of Koko, a gorilla taught to use sign language to communicate with humans. Koko also was known to keep cats as pets.
   
Enter T.K., an eventempered stray tabby who was introduced to Tonda as a new friend.
   
"I don't know of any other orangutan that has had a cat as a companion," said ZooWorld senior keeper Terry Bolduc.
   
For two weeks, T.K. was allowed only near the outside of Tonda's cage, letting the two bond.
   
"Then we opened the door, and it was love at first sight," Bolduc said.
   
Over the last three years, they have grown together like a human couple, Willard said. Some days they interact and cuddle; some days they spend time alone.