Neal was born on October 2, 1997 and came to Project Chimps on November, 20, 2019. He was one of 19 chimpanzees in a social group that includes Kirk as alpha of the Chimps Ahoy Villa.
Neal came to us from New Iberia Research Center. After 22 years in a medical research laboratory, he was here at Project Chimps just over 2 years.
At 24, Neal was an older chimpanzee at Project Chimps. He may have not been the most photogenic, but he had a playful attitude. Neal liked to play chase and hide and seek with a smile. Every day was a party for him at Project Chimps. According to his caregivers, “Neal took advantage of every moment he had in sanctuary to play with and lift the spirits of every human and non-human he came across.” He was the greeting committee excited to see his caregivers every morning when the door were opened. “It was hard to have a bad morning when I was working with him,” said caregiver Kalli.
According to caregivers Neal appeared healthy in the morning. He was found unresponsive at lunch time. We believe he succumbed to sudden heart failure. His remains have been submitted for a necropsy with results expected in a few weeks.
While chimps can live into their 50s, 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.
Neal’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.
Donations made in memory of Neal are welcome and can be made here.
