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Chomel the orang utan is the one to take over Ah Meng's place as Singapore's animal icon, according to an online poll of AsiaOne readers.
Twelve years old, she is Ah Meng's fifth granddaughter and said to be the late matriach's favourite grandchild. And now Chomel is the readers' favourite among six choices, garnering 753 votes out of 1,950, or 39 per cent of the votes.
She beat by a clear margin the popular homegrown polar bear, Inuka, who received 465 votes (24%). The other animals in the running were Omar the white tiger (261 votes, 13%), Pedro the otter (198 votes, 10%), Chawang the elephant (158 votes, 8%) and Randall the sealion (115 votes, 6%).
Pretty like Ah Meng was, Chomel is said to have inheritated the latter's good-natured personality as well. "Chomel is often seen caring for the younger orang utans around her," said spokesperson Ms Isabel Cheng from the Wildlife Reserves Singapore, which runs the Singapore Zoo.
"For example, if the other juveniles are unsure about how to navigate the trees, Chomel will be the first one over to show them how it's done," added Ms Cheng, who is the director of sales, marketing and communications. "Chomel coming out tops goes to show that Ah Meng is legendary and she will live on," she said, adding that there are no immediate plans by the Zoo to name its next icon.
To remember Ah Meng and her contributions, the Zoo will name its nextborn orang utan Ah Meng Junior.
Visit our special to read more about Ah Meng and the animals that could succeed her.
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