Celebrate JESSIE’s 33rd birthday!

When she arrived from the lab in the summer of 2022, Jessie let us know she was ready to get out of her transport carrier and into her new home by loudly banging on the top of the metal enclosure. Expecting to see a young, rowdy chimp, we were surprised when little old lady Jessie appeared! Yet another reminder of why we’re here, supporting the chimpanzees in our care. After 31 years living in a research lab environment, Jessie had finally arrived to live in sanctuary. 

A high-ranking female in Prince’s group, Jessie has a very motherly presence but holds her own when she needs to. Together with groupmates Dawn, Sasha and Kate, Jessie forms the “Old Lady Brigade,” a group of four 30-something retired lab chimps that seem to delight in each others company. One example of their bond is the fact that Kate is a notoriously slow shifter. Whenever we need to clean rooms and Kate drags her feet moving, Jessie will patiently make sure her friend is comfortable leaving her current room before leaving herself.

Recently, Scott has taken a liking to Jessie and will try to engage by throwing blankets in her direction and head nodding. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It usually makes her ignore him, the opposite of the intended consequence. 

The Blue Ridge Mountains has a strong retired community, but no community member is stronger (literally) than Jessie. We look forward to seeing her each and every morning. 

Today, February 1, we wish Jessie a very happy 33rd birthday! If you’d care to send her a birthday gift – one that’ll be sent directly to the sanctuary, by the way – you can check out our Amazon Wish List and pick up a hard plastic toy such as a Kong.