Africa Alive! Jill the Chimpanzee

MummyOrca

MummyOrca

New Member
I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about Jill, their one and only Chimpanzee?

I visited in March this year, and was a little disheartened seeing her on her own. Recently I started thinking about her again, and tried to do some research, but can't really find anything about her, although I haven't really been able to look too much into it, so little spare time and all. So if anyone has any information I would be greatful.

Thank
 
This is her info from the stud book:

Wild caught in Sierra Leone possibly born in 1970.
She then went to Rushden (don't know it)
Then banham in 1973
Then on loan to twycross in march 1984
She returned to banham in September of the same year.
She finally went to Africa Alive in 1994!

Quite a journey!

Offspring records I can find: stillbirth at Banham in Oct 1990 and another still birth in 1991.

I'm pretty sure that there's another thread about her somewhere as well.
 
Just a thought, Jill a female chimp currently lives on her own at Africa Live, there is also currently a male chimp living on his own at Drayton Manor, would it not be possible to pair them up at either zoo to provide companionship for the two animals, one zoo would of course no longer have a chimp, but I don't think that would be any great loss to either zoo, keeping a chimp on its own.
 
TARZAN said:
Just a thought, Jill a female chimp currently lives on her own at Africa Live, there is also currently a male chimp living on his own at Drayton Manor, would it not be possible to pair them up at either zoo to provide companionship for the two animals, one zoo would of course no longer have a chimp, but I don't think that would be any great loss to either zoo, keeping a chimp on its own.
Click to expand...
Given what I have heard from friends that have worked with the Chimp at Drayton Manor,I'm pretty certain if you tried mixing him with another Chimp now you would end of with a dead Chimp!
 
zoogiraffe said:
Given what I have heard from friends that have worked with the Chimp at Drayton Manor,I'm pretty certain if you tried mixing him with another Chimp now you would end of with a dead Chimp!
Click to expand...

Right I see, second thought, well how about sending Jill to Twycross to join one of the groups there.
 
She lived with a male for many years until he died. I imagine she would get on with other chimps fine because of that. I notice from the above SB data that she went to Twycross for a few months many years ago. It would be nice to see her with other chimps again. Twycross did this once before for the lone female 'Melody' who came from a small Zoo in South Wales. But maybe they've got enough on their plate with their own chimps these days without taking on yet another old one, even if AA wanted to rehome her- they probably don't.
 
The sign on Jill's enclosure says that keepers have seen a positive behaviour change since shes been on her own so at the moment they are going to keep her on her own.
 
Saw Jill last week. Two children were screaming and laughing at her and running away and then running back again and again. I was about to speak to the parent and they went away. This can't be any good for her.
 
Moving on

Jill has now moved onto Blair Drummond in an attempt to integrate her with the none breeding group up there. The move took place last week and is said to have been a success so far...

On the 17th of February Jill, our 45 year old chimpanzee was transferred to Blair Drummond Safari Park in Scotland. She has been a real favourite with both staff and visitors to Africa Alive! for the past 21 years, having arrived from our sister collection Banham zoo on the 1st of April 1994.

Following the death of our male chimpanzee ‘Jimmy’ in 2011, Jill had been on her own, however, since then, her behaviour, appetite and general physical wellbeing have been closely monitored by both her keepers, senior animal management staff and our veterinary team on a daily basis and she has never shown any adverse effects either behaviourally or emotionally to his loss and in fact, has appeared to be more content and happier to have the accommodation to herself.

Consequently, as Jill had a good relationship with her keepers and responded positively to them, we took the decision of affording her the luxury of having the place to herself, but with the proviso that, should there ever be a negative change in her behaviour and/or demeanour or there was an opportunity to send her to a good home, where she could be safely integrated into an already established group of chimps, we would reassess the situation.

In 2014, the opportunity of sending Jill to a good home did arise and after months of planning and preparation, her transfer to Blair Drummond Safari Park was arranged. Prior to her departure, staff from Blair Drummond visited Africa Alive! to assess Jill and likewise, staff from Africa Alive! travelled to Scotland to ensure that the accommodation and group of chimps that Jill would be going in to, was right for her.

We feel that Blair Drummond does have the right facilities and group dynamics and that Jill’s current situation will be improved upon by going there. However, Jill’s welfare will always be paramount over everything else and should for some unknown reason the introduction prove to be unsuccessful, she will return to Africa Alive!.
Farewell to Chimp Jill | Latest News | UK Zoos - Africa Alive!
 
Nisha said:
Jill has now moved onto Blair Drummond in an attempt to integrate her with the none breeding group up there. The move took place last week and is said to have been a success so far...

On the 17th of February Jill, our 45 year old chimpanzee was transferred to Blair Drummond Safari Park in Scotland. She has been a real favourite with both staff and visitors to Africa Alive! for the past 21 years, having arrived from our sister collection Banham zoo on the 1st of April 1994.

Following the death of our male chimpanzee ‘Jimmy’ in 2011, Jill had been on her own, however, since then, her behaviour, appetite and general physical wellbeing have been closely monitored by both her keepers, senior animal management staff and our veterinary team on a daily basis and she has never shown any adverse effects either behaviourally or emotionally to his loss and in fact, has appeared to be more content and happier to have the accommodation to herself.

Consequently, as Jill had a good relationship with her keepers and responded positively to them, we took the decision of affording her the luxury of having the place to herself, but with the proviso that, should there ever be a negative change in her behaviour and/or demeanour or there was an opportunity to send her to a good home, where she could be safely integrated into an already established group of chimps, we would reassess the situation.

In 2014, the opportunity of sending Jill to a good home did arise and after months of planning and preparation, her transfer to Blair Drummond Safari Park was arranged. Prior to her departure, staff from Blair Drummond visited Africa Alive! to assess Jill and likewise, staff from Africa Alive! travelled to Scotland to ensure that the accommodation and group of chimps that Jill would be going in to, was right for her.

We feel that Blair Drummond does have the right facilities and group dynamics and that Jill’s current situation will be improved upon by going there. However, Jill’s welfare will always be paramount over everything else and should for some unknown reason the introduction prove to be unsuccessful, she will return to Africa Alive!.
Farewell to Chimp Jill | Latest News | UK Zoos - Africa Alive!
Click to expand...

What I like about this is that if Jill does not get on with the chimps at Blair Drummond for whatever reason then Africa Alive state that they will bring her back, so they are at least trying to make sure she has company of her own kind.
 
Junior Friendly said:
What I like about this is that if Jill does not get on with the chimps at Blair Drummond for whatever reason then Africa Alive state that they will bring her back, so they are at least trying to make sure she has company of her own kind.
Click to expand...

I think overall this has been a very positive bit of chimp management and regional zoo partnership. It was obvious to all that the current setup for chimps at AA was not suitable as a long-term option. Obviously one of the two elderly chimps would die first and so it has been encouraging to see that Blair Drummond was willing to attempt an integration of the remaining individual into their group. I hope it is a success.
 
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