Wellington Zoo's Oldest Resident, Chimpanzee Jessie, Dies at Age 46

Wellington Zoo in the capital of New Zealand has announced the death of its oldest resident, chimpanzee Jessie, who lived her entire 46 years in captivity. Matriarch of the Te Nukuao zoo, Jessie was born on July 10, 1978.

"She was a personality, a favorite among both visitors and staff," the administration of Te Nukuao said on its Facebook page. "She loved the attention of the keepers, always greeting them in the morning and saying goodbye as they left. Jessie helped our staff by picking up dropped items and clearing slides that were covered with straw."

The message noted that Jessie had formed a "strong friendship" with the youngest chimpanzee in the community, Akida, often caring for him and assisting his mother, Sally.

Like many female chimpanzees, Jessie had a fondness for shoes—she loved colorful footwear and could never get enough of shiny boots or interesting shoelaces.

The veterinary team at Wellington Zoo closely monitored the health of its residents. However, in recent months, Jessie's condition had significantly deteriorated due to age-related ailments, including degenerative arthritis, which even pain relief could not alleviate. "Over time, she began to eat less, spend more time in her enclosure, and stopped interacting with the other monkeys," the statement said. Ultimately, the zoo administration made the "difficult decision to euthanize" the chimpanzee this week.

"Everyone loved Jessie, and we will miss her dearly," zoo staff wrote. "When we say 'haere ra,' we pay tribute to Jessie, who inspired us to learn more about chimpanzees and what we can do to help preserve their natural habitat."

It is known that chimpanzees typically live less than 40 years in captivity.