MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - Milwaukee County Zoo officials say a five year old orangutan died in his exhibit Saturday morning.

They say Mahal had been showing signs of sickness since last week. Veterinarians at the zoo think the cause of death was pneumonia, but a necropsy will be done to make sure.

Mahal was said to be especially popular with zoo visitors and the facility plans to set up a way for the public to commemorate him.

The red-haired orangutan was born in Colorado, but was rejected by his mother. He was raised by a surrogate mother in Milwaukee.