Wellington Zoo’s oldest chimpanzee, Jessie, passed away on Wednesday after being euthanised due to declining health.
Jessie, who was 46 years old, was the matriarch of the zoo’s chimpanzee community and had lived her entire life at the zoo. Zoo staff decided to euthanise her because her health had worsened significantly due to age-related conditions like arthritis.
In recent months, Jessie had been eating less and staying indoors more, showing signs of pain that could no longer be managed with medication. Wellington Zoo emphasised that the welfare and quality of life of their animals are top priorities, and the decision to euthanise Jessie was made to prevent her from suffering further.
Born in July 1978, Jessie was well-loved by visitors and zookeepers.
She had a big personality and enjoyed interacting with her keepers, greeting them each morning and saying goodbye in the evening. Jessie was known for her strong friendship with Akida, the youngest chimp in the group. She was also famous for her love of colourful shoes and sparkly boots, which amused both staff and visitors.
Jessie will be deeply missed by everyone at the zoo, where she spent her entire life bringing joy to many people.
I will miss jessie😥