Alex

Alex was born on November 6, 1984 and came to Project Chimps on November 7, 2018. He was one of 14 chimpanzees in a social group that included Kareem, Jermaine, Ronald, Collin, Babs, LB, Sky, Almasi, Noel, Amy, Loretta, Sarah, and Harley.

Alex spent his adolescent years confined in a small, metal cage. After 34 years in multiple medical research laboratories, Alex’s use in medical research ended in 2015. As if given a gift, he was prepared for transfer to Project Chimps on the day of his 34th birthday.

At 36, Alex was the second-oldest chimpanzee at Project Chimps. He strongly preferred his indoor villa over going outside. He was given extra fun enrichment to ensure he still had a great day.  Alex loved to carry around small toys and almost always had one with him. He was very close to Kareem but was also seen frequently playing with younger females in his group. 

Alex enjoyed extra-crunchy cracked corn as a snack, and ice cubes made with flavored water and raisins were among his favorite enrichment items. 

In the short time that we have known Alex, he appeared to be a healthy chimp prone to weight loss when he first arrived, he gained back and maintained a healthy weight through close monitoring and nutritional support.  He loved his daily protein shake!

In January 2021, Alex was scheduled to have his vasectomy revisited (male chimps need this every few years as they have a high rate of regrowth). Alex was due for his surgery and routine dental cleaning. He, along with two other males, had a successful procedure on January 26. Along with his vasectomy, Alex received a full physical and dental exam, echocardiogram, abdominal ultrasound, bloodwork, urinalysis, and his vaccinations.

Along with our veterinarian, Dr. Silver, and our clinic team, The Great Ape Heart Project was also present to assist with a cardiac evaluation.

After the procedure was completed, Alex was moved to a recovery area and monitored by staff. We always ensure staff are at hand during recovery, staying with each patient, at all times, until they are fully awake and able to drink water. Alex was recovering from anesthesia, sleeping peacefully, when suddenly his heart stopped and he was no longer breathing. Our team started CPR within seconds. The recovery team attempted to revive him but were unable to bring him back. His heart had stopped and could not be restarted.

A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

While chimps can live into their 50s in captivity according to the Lincoln Park Zoo ChimpDATA, the median life expectancy of a chimpanzee in captivity is 32.5 for males and 40.1 for females. 

Alex’s remains will be cremated and planted with a native/fruit tree on the grounds of Project Chimps in a future Remembrance Garden. The memorial site will be marked by a plaque with his name.

Alex was one of 80 former research chimpanzees who relocated to retirement at the Project Chimps sanctuary. Donations made in memory of Alex are welcome and can be made here: https://projectchimps.org/donate/

Caregiver Kailie Dombrausky provided this tribute: “Alex, my sweet friend. You were loved dearly and will be missed deeply, by chimps and humans alike. Walking into Chateau today was a somber experience, as you were not there to greet me with your raspberries like you always used to. I will remember your energy and quirks that stood out to me. I will miss the way you walked down ladders, where you would take one step with your right foot but two with your left. I will miss how you always had to take your protein shake in three gulps, never any more or any less. I will miss how you always played with the locks in between gulps too. I will miss how you would bipedally run up to the mesh, blowing raspberries, super excited any time I walked by or reached into my pocket because you thought I had a peanut for you. And I will miss running to get you a peanut because, of course I just had to! I could never say no to such a sweet face. I will miss watching you play with the little girls in your group. I will miss hearing your raspy exclamations any time any of them got too close to where you were foraging. You were such a good chimp, and none of our lives will be the same without you. I’m sad to see you go but happy you got to spend your days in sanctuary. I’m honored to have cross paths with you, and to have provided care to you during your final years. I hope you’re out there exploring that big open habitat in the sky. You are finally free. With utmost love and respect to you sweet friend.”