Chimpanzees Living in Zoos

Not all chimpanzees live in their natural African habitats, free to move about their territory in search of food and other chimpanzees. About 500 chimpanzees live in zoos in the United States alone. Some of the older chimpanzees in zoos today were born in the wild and captured for sale. Wild caught zoo chimpanzees are members of the "founder population" or chimpanzees not related to any chimpanzees already in zoos. The oldest chimpanzee in an American Zoo is a female, Little Mama, who lives in Lion Country Safari, West Palm Beach, Florida. Estimated to be born in 1938, she is thought to be nearly seventy years old.

Chimpanzees that make up the current zoo population are living longer than their predecessors. The current mean age of zoo chimpanzees is in the mid twenties. This low figure is due to a very high infant mortality rate. Infants born today that survive infancy can expect a longer life span because of an accumulation of knowledge of chimpanzee care gained over the past half century. They live in more natural and suitable housing, their diet is designed to be nutritious and appropriate for their digestive systems, and daily enrichment objects and activities increase mental stimulation while decreasing boredom, depression and lethargy.

Randi with Babyface  Credit Rolling Hills Zoo

It is important for people visiting zoos to remember that chimpanzees are highly intelligent creatures capable of complex social behaviors, such as tool use and tool making. Social, by nature, chimpanzees suffer greatly when housed alone. People watching chimpanzees in zoos are often surprised at the similarity of chimpanzee bodies and behavior to their own. When approaching or watching chimpanzees in zoos, humans should respect their privacy, keeping their voices low and refrain from loud boisterous behavior.

Credit-Eric Matthews