george

I sent out an email this morning about our HUGE news. You all got it, right? If not, get yourself signed up for the e-news now.

We’ve been holding onto this news for a little while, and it’s been tough not to let you all in on the information.

You know we share almost everything as it happens, so holding onto such a big secret has felt strange. But, we did not want to do anything to interfere with the ongoing investigations and removal of animals at West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon, Oregon.

I know you are interested in learning everything about George and seeing more photos and videos of him. We are still getting to know him, and we are following strict protocols during the first phase of his quarantine, limiting his exposure to caregivers and keeping everything for him separate from the other chimpanzees.

Huge shout-out to all of the caregivers who carefully prepared for his arrival and have been doting on him when he wants attention and letting him be when he doesn’t. He has a lot of new friends here who look forward to giving him a whole bunch of “firsts” in the coming months.

You know that caring for chimpanzees is an unpredictable and expensive endeavor, and I hope that you will make a welcome donation for George to go towards his care.

I have known about George for a long time. He was born at Steve Martin’s Working Wildlife (no relation to Steve Martin the comedian). When he was just over a year old, he was used for posed photos at a casino. He spent a few years as one of many (over a dozen!) young chimpanzees used as the “star” of a long-running television show in Germany called Unser Charly (Our Charly).

Nothing about George’s infancy or childhood was normal for a chimpanzee. Once trainer Steve Martin and the television show had no more use for him, George was sent to West Coast Game Park Safari.

Like I mentioned in the email I sent out this morning, we can’t say anything about the conditions there that we observed firsthand (yet), but there’s a lot of information out publicly about the many USDA violations this roadside zoo has racked up over the years (helpful note: you can view inspection reports for any facility with a USDA license by using the search function on this page).

George replaced a previous male, Sam, who was taught to smoke. Sam passed away at the roadside zoo and George arrived in 2011, joining a female chimpanzee there named Daphne who had lived with Sam. Daphne died in November, 2023 and George has lived by himself ever since.

The Bandon game park is one many roadside zoos across the United States. Or it was… until last week.

I know that many of you in Coos County have been reporting your concerns about the animals there, and have gotten to know George. Animal welfare and animal rights organizations and rescues have spoken out in the hopes that action would be taken. The authorities that we worked with to get George out of there were full of compassion and allowed us to make sure that George was safe.

We want to thank all of you for all of your efforts and your concerns and for joining us in welcoming him.

More about George soon!