Maggie, one of the five oldest chimpanzees in the United States, has passed away at the age of 56 due to lymphoma, highlighting concerns at the San Francisco Zoo. Since the death of her companion Minnie the previous year, Maggie struggled with her health and had been in palliative care. She was a significant figure in the troop, known for her leadership qualities. With her passing, the zoo's chimpanzee group is reduced to just three, raising concerns about genetic diversity and the need for potential rehoming or acquiring new chimps to ensure a healthy troop size.
"Maggie was a true matriarch in every sense of the word, often ensuring harmony within the troop. Although she allowed the males to think they were the alpha, Maggie would step in when needed, asserting her leadership with strength and grace."
"Maggie had lived well past her life expectancy, and was ill. Still, Maggie's death does bring up some difficult questions for the zoo."
Collection
[
|
...
]