Celebrating RUSTY’s 39th birthday!
They say that with age comes wisdom and nowhere can we see that more clearly than we do in Rusty! Today, we’re honored to celebrate Rusty’s 39th birthday here at Project Chimps.
Rusty was born on April 25, 1985, making him the oldest chimp living at the sanctuary! Known for his large head, hands and dark brown face, Rusty has some white hairs that frame his facial features. Caregivers describe him as the “quintessential retired old man” who’s always preferred focusing on the simple things in life. If there’s drama or his group is roaming the habitat, Rusty is usually inside the villa chilling or eating.
Other than staying out of drama (most of the time), Rusty is very jovial and enjoys playing games. One of his favorites is a peekaboo-style game he plays with caregivers. In this game, Rusty will hide behind panels and bounce into view with an excited play face! He loves involving Roxy and Luke on rainy days when the rest of the group is on the porches.
He’s also very playful with the other chimps in his group, especially the younger girls. He’s particularly close with 13-year-old Krystin and the two often have a great time wrestling. In contrast with some of the other male chimps, Rusty is an ideal playmate for many of the girls! Some get too excited and accidentally upset their playmate but Rusty is great at knowing how far is too far.
Rusty positively adores oranges and he spends a long time after meals collecting discarded orange peels. Caregivers all know to give Rusty time to collect his peels before he’s ready to shift into a new room!
He spends a lot of his time goofing off or expressing himself by performing his trademark “Rusty Roar.” According to caregivers, this roar sounds like a t-rex or something from Jurassic Park! Although perhaps partly just dramatic flair, the “Rusty Roar” is also a helpful way he communicates that he wants attention. Mandy is particularly attuned to this, finding and giving him the attention he’s looking for!
We feel so lucky to know Rusty and we hope you’ll join us in wishing him a happy 39th birthday! If you’d like to send some orange-flavored joint health gummies as a birthday gift, check out our Amazon wish list! Happy birthday, Rusty! We’re so glad to know you!