‘Sassy’ 55-year-old chimpanzee — known for ‘signature screams’ — dies at Michigan zoo
A chimpanzee’s “sweet faces” graced the exhibits at a Michigan zoo for nearly a quarter century, and for decades more at two other zoos.
Peggy, the 55-year-old chimpanzee at John Ball Zoo, died after a steep health decline, the zoo said in a Jan. 29 Facebook post.
She defied life expectancy odds for most female chimpanzees. The species, according to the zoo, lives approximately 40 years in captivity.
Peggy spent the majority of her life, 24 years, at the zoo in Grand Rapids, officials said. Prior to joining John Ball Zoo, she was at the Cleveland Zoo for 17 years and the Detroit Zoo for 12 years.
As Peggy showed her “sassy” personality while swinging about the exhibit’s ropes, her “signature screams” rang throughout the chimpanzee habitat.
“Peggy left a lasting impact on her fellow chimps and those who cared for her,” the zoo said in a Facebook post.
Chimpanzees are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 5:50 PM with the headline "‘Sassy’ 55-year-old chimpanzee — known for ‘signature screams’ — dies at Michigan zoo."
