Chester Zoo has announced that their beloved Bornean orangutan, Martha, has sadly died at the age of 59.
One of the longest-running residents of the UK’s leading charity zoo, Martha had been in good health for the majority of her nearly 60 years on earth, but within the last few years, she sadly began to develop and suffer from some age-related complications.
Vets and primate experts at Chester Zoo had been helping her with daily medication and intensive geriatric care, which including innovative laser treatment for her arthritis – but sadly, following a deterioration to her condition in recent months, the decision was made to put her to sleep.
Chester Zoo says the decision was an “extremely tough” one, and her death has been announced with “a very heavy heart”.
Martha’s story is truly an incredible one.
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Chester Zoo’s beloved Bornean orangutan, Martha, has sadly died aged 59 / Credit: Chester Zoo
Orphaned as a baby, Martha had to be raised in care by Barbara Harrison – who was an early pioneering orangutan conservationist, who helped to set up the first orangutan rehabilitation centre in Borneo – before she moved to Chester in 1966, where she went on to become a hugely-influential part of the international conservation breeding programme that works to ensure a safety-net population of Bornean orangutans.
At an estimated 59 years, she lived well beyond her typical life expectancy – which, in the wild, is estimated to be around 40 years.
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Martha was a great great-grandmother, having had two daughters – Sarikei and Leia – who she lived with at Chester Zoo, alongside her daughters’ own offspring, Dot, and a young female born in September 2023.
The zoo has paid a touching tribute to their “grand old lady” / Credit: Chester Zoo
“There really aren’t enough words to convey the awe and respect that I have for Martha, the grand old lady of Chester Zoo,” Chris Yarwood, who is the Primate Assistant Manager and long-time carer for Martha of more than 26 years, said in a touching tribute.
“It feels incredibly strange to have to say goodbye.
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“A wonderful mother and role model to her daughters, Sarikei and Leia, Martha was a true ambassador for her species, and fundamental to the establishment of the global conservation breeding programme, working to protect these charismatic, but sadly highly threatened animals.”
Mr Yarwood said getting to care for Martha for close to three decades had been “a huge privilege”, and said she’ll be “hugely missed”.
“She will always hold a special place in our hearts,” he concluded.
Featured Image – Chester Zoo
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FIFA confirm new changes to international breaks – and many fans are divided
Danny Jones
Global sporting body FIFA have announced new changes to the annual football calendar and the ever-divisive international breaks, specifically.
It’s fair to say that not everyone is in agreement over the update to what many fans and even players already find a frustrating format.
Put simply, FIFA have revealed that they will be merging the traditional September and October breaks into one extended period of international football from 2026 onwards.
Once again, although the decision has been met with plenty of support, it has also faced just as much, if not potentially even more, resistance.
That's well better. Always thought instead of having 3 short international breaks in autumn we'd be better off having one long one
As detailed by multiple outlets following full confirmation on Monday, 13 September, footy fans are now looking at a combined 16 days of watching national teams in World Cup qualifiers and other fixtures.
While other clubs further down the footballing pyramid will still be able to watch their team, supporters of Premier League sides and several other divisions will see domestic action cease for roughly three weeks when taking into account rest days between international and club fixtures
Besides incorporating more teams into this year’s World Cup (now a 48-team affair) and the still relatively recent advent of the Nations League – which UEFA introduced in the hopes of creating more interest in the much-maligned international breaks – this is one of the biggest changes in some time.
At present, there are typically four breaks: September, October, November and March/April – not including major tournaments themselves.
One criticism of this format has been the stop-start consequence it has on club football, and indeed, struggling to create any real momentum and/or excitement, as well as the impact on form it sometimes has on players both away on national team duty and when they get back to their clubs.
I suppose it’s better than having two different breaks in Sept and the October, and the stop start nature of the club season.
Another big concern these breaks have always been met with is the added risk of fatigue and injury.
Despite being athletes who regularly train to remain at the peak of their physical fitness, the increasingly congested fixture calendar – particularly for those playing in England, with multiple cup competitions, the prospect of European football AND no break over Christmas – continues to push bodies to the limit.
Once again, these new changes to international breaks won’t come into effect until next year, but there are plenty of pros and cons that professionals and supporters alike will continue to debate until the new schedule is implemented.
Family pay tribute to ‘loyal’ son who was killed in a stabbing in Moss Side
Emily Sergeant
The family of a 15-year-old boy who lost his life in a stabbing in Moss Side this week have paid a touching tribute to him.
The boy has also formally been named as Mohanad Abdullaahi Goobe.
Mohanad was described as having an ‘uncanny ability’ to make you laugh in his family’s emotional tribute, as shared with the public.
The family’s statement reads: “Mohanad was the baby of the family, he was quick to laugh, easy to love, with a ready smile. Our son had an uncanny ability to make you laugh, making it sometimes difficult to be serious with him. He had many friends, he was loyal and often played the class clown, simply to see them laugh.
#TRIBUTE | Following the death of a teenage boy on Monton Street in Manchester yesterday (15 September), we are now able to name him as 15-year-old Mohanad Abdullaahi Goobe.
“Mohanad’s life has been cut tragically short, it is difficult to comprehend that seeing your son head off for school in the morning, would be the last time that we would see that handsome face.
“Mohanad deserves to be remembered for the young man who was loved by his family, and loved big in return, not as the boy whose life was taken with no thought or reason.
“We will not allow his name to be known as yet another statistic in the rise of knife crime.”
Tributes come after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) were called out to reports of a ‘disturbance’ involving a number of people on Monton Street in Moss Side at just after 4:30pm on Monday (15 September), and when they arrived on the scene, they found a 15-year-old boy with serious stab wounds.
#ARREST | Following our earlier update, a 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody.
This arrest comes after the death of another 15-year-old boy on Monton Street, Moss Side yesterday (15 September 2025).
After being treated both at the scene and later in hospital, the boy was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
A murder investigation was subsequently launched, and another teenager, also a 15-year-old boy, was then arrested on suspicion of murder yesterday (16 September).
Anyone with any information, or who may have been in the area at the time of the incident, is urged to contact GMP on 101 or online, quoting log 2327 of 15/09/25.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
19th January 2024 
