Today’s blog is all about Annie! Annie is a playful chimpanzee who enjoys spending time with her chimpanzee friends, most notably with her best friend Missy.
Annie (L) Missy (R)
Missy (L) Annie (R)
Annie grooms Missy
Annie (L) and Missy (R) play
While Missy is high-ranking in the group, Annie is low-ranking, and does not have the same level of confidence as her closest friend. She is cautious and can be quick to become upset during moments of uncertainty or upset within the group. She spends much of her time either playing with her chimp friends (especially Missy!) or relaxing. Annie, also lovingly referred to as “Annie Bird,” has an endearing habit of making “bird noises” with her mouth while resting, usually with her hands covering her mouth.
Annie making bird noises
Annie is good at solving food puzzles, especially those that require tools (or will make her own food puzzles using her tools, she can be a smoothie bandit!), and is easy to please when it comes to meals as she loves just about all fresh fruits and vegetables.
Annie uses a straw to siphon juice from someone else’s cup! Tool use level: expert.
Annie on the move with a watermelon bowl.
Annie was born in 1974, possibly in the wild, and we celebrate her birthday each year on September 10th. We celebrated her 51st birthday this past September! Prior to making it to sanctuary, she was used in biomedical research, specifically hepatitis vaccine studies. While in the lab, Annie had several babies, all of whom were taken from her and used in research themselves. While Annie did not get the opportunity to raise her own children, I’m confident that she would have been a sweet and attentive mother. Records indicate that she had seven children: Mariah, Virgil, Damian, Tobias, Petra, Abby, and Brooke. Mariah and Virgil live at Save the Chimps sanctuary in Florida, where Damian also lived until his death in 2011.
Mariah (photo from Save the Chimps)
Virgil (photo from Save the Chimps)
Damian (photo from Save the Chimps)
Tobias lived at Chimp Haven sanctuary in Louisiana until his death in 2014. Petra and Abby seem to have died at biomedical research facilities, and we have no records of what happened to Brooke.
Many of my favorite memories of Annie involve watching her interact with her chimp friends, and on some more rare occasions, her human friends. She is such a fun friend to have!
Annie plays with Burrito, who shows us a big play face.
Missy and Annie play
If this hasn’t given you enough to love about Annie, see Jenna’s post here for fifty more (okay, some may be repeats!) things to know, love, and appreciate about our friend, Annie. Thank you to Annie’s 14 current pals who support her and the sanctuary! If you’d like to become Annie’s pal, visit the link here!
