Auckland Zoo End of an era

Nisha

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Auckland's final Chimpanzee, Janie was PTS on 11th October 2013 at the grand old age of 60

The last of Auckland Zoo’s tea-party chimps has been put down today.

Janie was euthanised this afternoon because of health issues brought about through ageing.

The 60-year-old chimpanzee, which came to Auckland from London Zoo 57 years ago, was the oldest animal at the zoo and Head of Life Sciences Kevin Buley said her death was heart-wrenching for staff.

“Janie was and always will be a special part of Auckland Zoo and we are very saddened by her loss,” he said.

"While it was a heartbreaking decision, the overwhelming desire to preserve Janie's dignity meant it was the right one."

Janie came to the zoo with her companions Bobbie, Josie and Minnie; the foursome making up the “tea party chimps”.

For seven years they entertained the public with their shenanigans but the tea parties stopped in 1963 because of changing attitudes.

Sierra Leone-born Janie was described by zoo staff as “highly intelligent, cheeky, funny and wise”, who said she had made a huge impact on visitors for many years.

Janie became a solo chimpanzee in late 2004 when her last companion, Bobbie, died.

Her health issues are thought to be due to her abnormal start in life and the impact of an inappropriate diet in the earlier decades of her life. She suffered from Type-2 diabetes and asthma.

Janie will be cremated and her ashes will be spread at the zoo.

Buley said there had already been a flurry of messages on social media since the announcement and if people wanted to pay their respects they could come to the zoo and leave flowers or written tributes at her old enclosure.

If people would like to pay tribute to Janie, donations can be made to the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund at the Zoo or at aucklandzoo.co.nz.
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Janie, Auckland Zoo's Chimpanzee Dies - national | Stuff.co.nz
 
Very sad news, condolences to all at Auckland Zoo, especially Christine, who must be devastated.

I do hope they preserve her enclosure, it is so unlike anything else at Auckland, and would make a great historical exhibit near the park-like band rotunda area.
 
Very sad news, condolences to all at Auckland Zoo, especially Christine, who must be devastated.

I do hope they preserve her enclosure, it is so unlike anything else at Auckland, and would make a great historical exhibit near the park-like band rotunda area.

Yes.
Great idea, I agree. I wonder what they will do with her phone? I'd suggest giving it to Christine maybe?
 
I think keeping it as a historical piece is a great idea. It's really the only bit of old school zoo left - this is a good thing - and it could be largely preserved as it is, kept as a walk through museum type affair with some pics of Janie and perhaps some signage of the history of how things were versus how they are now.
 
Stupid anthropomorphism - they destroyed such an old chimp, while reaching this age is unique case!
Animals don't care what happens to their bodies. She better to have been preserved.
I hate when iconic animals are treated as humans in the terms of 'burial'. The same thing happened with Snowflake the gorilla - the only albino of his kind known ever! He could 'rest in peace' in a museum storage instead of being cremated. But they loved him too much.
No picture, one or thousand, can replace a real, well prepared specimen.
Preserve your animals for posterity, and bury the unwanted soft tissue in a grave/urn to weep at.
 
Stupid anthropomorphism - they destroyed such an old chimp, while reaching this age is unique case!
Animals don't care what happens to their bodies. She better to have been preserved.

Is there really much interest in a stuffed chimp? It's not as though people can't go to numerous other places to see living ones. I can see an argument for Snbowflake but Janie was just a normal chimp and what made her special to those who cared about her has gone now.

What a horrible idea.
 
Is there really much interest in a stuffed chimp? It's not as though people can't go to numerous other places to see living ones. I can see an argument for Snbowflake but Janie was just a normal chimp and what made her special to those who cared about her has gone now.

What a horrible idea.

I agree, there is no real demand for stuffed chimps, and I can't see how an old chimp (not uniquely old either, there are older chimps, e.g. at Taronga) would be of any use stuffed. Auckland Zoo have sent specimens to be mounted upon death, including the last two Orang Utans which died at the zoo.
 
If the chimp is literally 'stuffed', there's no much interest, because this will be unrealistic.
Modern taxidermy techniques are marvellous, the only issue is that apes are not so abundant as deer are...
Check out how Darli the orangutan from Auckland Zoo was preserved. She is no less special than Janie was, just lived a very short life. When I saw the picture of a finished mount in the web, it looked just like a real animal photographed at studio on a branch, if not a somewhat fixed gesture. The belly cut from autopsy is totally invisible - and for a bald chimp, it would look as good.
A ?Secret Revealed? from the Museum freezer | Auckland Museum blog
And older animals offer more to research beacuse their body strictures are often changed by aging - for example, the brain & skeleton.
What a horrible idea.
With such attitude, it's time to ask museums to finally bury all their apes (and humans), and never bring in more.
Dead animals are not less facsinating than living ones, and we shouldn't feel guilty for preserving any of them, be it a roadkill or a zoo resident.
 
What has happened to Janie's old enclosure? Has it remained largely untouched since her passing or has it been demolished?

With regards to the Tea Party Chimpanzee, I understand their only living descendent is Sally (1970).

Does anyone know details of any other offspring born to the Tea Party Chimpanzee at Auckland Zoo besides Suzie (1964-2011)?

I have read there was a baby born 1964 who died shortly after birth (implied to be Josie's) which makes me think there may have been others???

It's sad the genes of Auckland Zoo's Tea Party Chimpanzee have never been passed on. Wellington Zoo's Tea Party Chimpanzee have numerous descendents.
 
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