Tibi was born on December 30, 1985 and came to Project Chimps on November 20, 2019. He was one of ten male chimpanzees in a social group that includes Kirk, Armond, Justin, Neal, Rocko, Rusty, Luke, Greg, and Maverick that reside in Chimps Ahoy Villa.
The group was the most recent arrival to sanctuary, just six months ago. Every chimpanzee receives a full physical exam with diagnostic tests before they make the 14-hour journey to sanctuary. Tibi’s medical records showed that he was stable, his labs were within normal range for a chimp his age, and he was in good health for transfer.
We know little about the life Tibi had in the research labs beyond the history that he was born at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine & Surgery in Primates and resided for a time at The Coulston Foundation before moving to the New Iberia Research Center and then ultimately enjoying his last days in the Blue Ridge mountains.
Tibi was acting normally and seemed healthy until he began to show signs of a critical illness this weekend. An emergency veterinary exam was performed, and his blood work revealed he was in renal failure.
Tibi was humanely euthanized surrounded by the care team who had already fallen in love with him. His fellow chimpanzees were given the opportunity to view his body and mourn his loss as well.
A necropsy was performed and gross findings are consistent with hemolytic crisis and renal failure, histology findings will be completed in two 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. Tibi was 34.
Tibi’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 with a plaque with Tibi’s name.
Tibi was one of 80 former research chimpanzees that relocated to retirement at the Project Chimps sanctuary. Donations made in memory of Tibi are welcome.
