We are saddened to share the news that chimpanzee Peggy has passed away aged 33. Peggy lived with kidney problems for quite some time and, despite intensive medical care, her health continued to deteriorate. We recently had to make the difficult decision to put her to sleep.
Peggy was a very special chimpanzee who spent many years in AAP’s care. Thanks to the support of our donors, we were able to give her a safe and dignified life, and for that we are deeply grateful.
Rescued from the circus
Peggy was born in a German circus, and was used in performances together with her parents, her sister Babsie, and several other chimpanzees. When she and Babsie were still young, the circus director passed away. His widow was no longer able to care for the animals, and the adult chimpanzees were euthanised.
Fortunately, AAP was able to intervene and rescue Peggy and Babsie. The two sisters arrived at our rescue centre in Almere in 2001, where they finally received the peace, care and space they deserved.
A new life among other chimpanzees
In 2009, Peggy and Babsie moved with a group of ten chimpanzees to AAP’s rescue centre in Spain. There, they spent many years in a stable social group with older chimpanzees.
Although things went well, it became increasingly important for the sisters to also have contact with peers – and those are mainly to be found at AAP Almere. That is why the sisters returned to the Netherlands in 2024. They were introduced to a group of younger chimpanzees, and these new social connections proved to be a valuable enrichment to their lives.
Declining health
For quite some time we have seen Peggy’s health worsen. She suffered from kidney problems, and despite intensive and professional medical care, she eventually developed kidney failure. Her condition continued to deteriorate: she lost a significant amount of weight, ate very little and became increasingly lethargic.
Over the past month, it became clear that Peggy’s quality of life had declined significantly. To spare her any further suffering and discomfort, we ultimately made the difficult but compassionate decision to put her to sleep.
Video: Peggy’s life
A special chimpanzee
Peggy was a chimpanzee with a unique personality and an extraordinary life story. From a life in the circus to a life among her own kind in a safe environment, AAP gave her the opportunity to simply be a chimpanzee.
We will miss her dearly, but we are grateful that we were able to give her many happy years
