Celebrating HERCULES’s 18th birthday!
November 19th is International Men’s Day, but that’s not the only thing we’re celebrating at Project Chimps! Today, Hercules is turning 18 years old, making this his 7th birthday at the sanctuary. We can’t wait to kick off the celebration with this birthday blog!
As a former research chimp, Hercules lived a very different life before coming to Project Chimps. When he was only two, he and another chimp named Leo were sent to a lab in a New York. They spent the next 5 years of their lives forced to walk upright in a long-term study on human locomotion.
Thankfully, that’s not where their story ends. After medical testing was finally banned on chimpanzees and after much media attention about their plight, Hercules and Leo retired to their forever home at Project Chimps on March 21, 2018.
Although Hercules was only 11 when he arrived, he made it his mission to protect every chimp in his group. He acts as the group’s enforcer by keeping the peace and backing up the current alpha, Binah. He even earned the nickname “Mama-Herk” for the way he looks out for the youngest chimp in their group, Kivuli! From sharing food to letting Kivuli hide behind him during times of conflict or stress, Hercules always tries to help.
Despite his tough-sounding name, Hercules is a softie at heart. He’s very popular and enjoys seeing visitors at habitat windows during tours, and he adores stuffed animals. However, his favorite thing is boxes, without a doubt! Not only does he love to sit in cardboard boxes for enrichment, he also likes to play with packing paper. Although some of his caregivers joke that he might be part cat, he’s 100% chimp and 100% “Hercules.”
Today on November 19th, we hope you’ll help us wish Hercules a happy 18th birthday! If you’d like to send him a birthday gift, please consider some boxes or stuffed animals from our Amazon Wishlist. Whether you send a gift or make a donation in his honor, thank you so much for supporting his care!
Hercules, you’re such an amazing soul and we’re so honored to know you! Thank you so much for making us smile and looking out for the other chimps in your group. Here’s hoping 18 is your best year yet!