Melbourne Zoo’s young orangutan blows out thirteen candles

One of Melbourne Zoo’s resident orangutans, Menyaru, has celebrated his 13^th birthday with a fruity feast.

Primate keeper Fiona Iacovangelo told 9NEWS the “very special” teenage orangutan is “very playful, super active, and has little attitude”.

Menyaru was on his best behaviour today, and enjoyed his party with other orangutans.

“He’s been having a great day… lots of treats”, Ms Iacovangelo said.

A specially made birthday cake was presented to Menyura outside his verdant enclosure.

The fruit-filled cupcakes were topped with flower “candles” and arranged in the shape of the number “13”.

A bounty of ripe bananas was also on the primate’s party menu.  

The Sumatran orangutan is known for his cheeky antics and keeping the zoo staff on their toes.

Melbourne Zoo was placed in lockdown last year after Menyaru tried to escape his enclosure.

Today’s birthday celebrations coincided with World Tiger Day, which aims to raise awareness for tiger conservation.

Melbourne Zoo actively promotes animal welfare and sustainability.

The Zoo’s ‘Don’t Palm Us Off’ campaign supports the labelling of palm-oil in the Australian manufacturing industry.

The natural habitat of Sumatran orangutans and tigers are destroyed from unsustainable palm oil production.

More than 1000 orangutans are estimated to die annually as a result of palm-oil plantations.