Beloved Singapore Zoo mascot Ah Meng lived a long glorious life for 48 years — smuggled in from Indonesia, kept illegally as a domestic pet before being rescued and transforming into a tourism icon.
The Sumatran Orangutan died in 2008, leaving behind a legacy as poster girl of the Singapore Zoo, where she greeted the likes of Michael Jackson, Prince Philip and more. Eight years since her passing, Ah Meng's legacy lives on in the form of her granddaughter, Ishta.
On Friday, five-year-old Ishta was revealed by the Singapore Zoo as the orangutan who'll be taking over the mantle of 'Ah Meng' and thus, the zoo's new ambassador. Ishta aka the new Ah Meng was picked out from the rest of her siblings for her affectionate personality as well as a striking resemblance to her late grandmother.