In brief
In a heartening yet complex endeavor, chimpanzees Eli and Susie, formerly stars in Hollywood, are being rehabilitated at Lincoln Park Zoo, learning to form natural social bonds among their species after years spent under human control.
On a rainy day at Lincoln Park Zoo, the sounds of children filled the air, contrasting sharply with the calm demeanor of the chimpanzees inside their exhibit. While visitors watched the apes sway in hammocks and forage for leaves, a different story unfolded just out of sight, where two ex-Hollywood chimps, Eli and Susie, were struggling to adapt to a more natural lifestyle. These two chimps, who found fame in music videos, commercials, and TV shows, have faced significant challenges since arriving at the zoo in 2020. The animals, once accustomed to the limelight, displayed anxiety around unfamiliar people, illustrating the difficulties of transitioning from life under human control to one where they can forge genuine connections with their own kind. Susie’s shrieks upon spotting a camera highlighted this ongoing struggle.Before reforms were introduced, chimpanzees were particularly vulnerable to exploitation in the entertainment industry. Only in 2015 were they finally to gain protections under the Endangered Species Act, yet the challenges of private ownership and the breeding of chimps for entertainment persisted. Sadly, many chimps endure tragic outcomes in the hands of individuals who see them merely as pets or performers.The critical issues surrounding the treatment of chimps and the pet primate trade were grimly showcased in the recent documentary “Chimp Crazy,” which has resonated with advocates like Kate Dylewsky from the Animal Welfare Institute. She is working tirelessly to lobby for a nationwide ban on the ownership of nonhuman primates, calling attention to the cruel conditions often inflicted on these inherently social beings.At Lincoln Park Zoo, specialized staff are committed to helping Eli and Susie unlearn the behaviors imposed on them by their past lives and rediscover what it means to be true chimpanzees. This rehabilitation process could ultimately redefine their futures, allowing them a chance to build friendships within their species and embrace a life that honors their innate instincts away from the public gaze.
