RUSTY’s T-Rex-cellent Dinosaur Birthday Party!
By Morgan Kelly
On April 25, 2025, Project Chimps resident Rusty turns 40! As the oldest chimp at the sanctuary, Rusty holds a special place in our hearts. But rest assured, he’s no dinosaur—even though he sounds like one with his iconic “Rusty Roar”! We’ll celebrate Rusty’s birthday with a special dinosaur birthday party.
A Pre-historic Chimp
When you visit the sanctuary, you might be startled by the sound of a dinosaur nearby. This is the powerful “Rusty Roar.” Rusty’s dinosaur roar is how he tells us and his friends that he’s ready for some attention. It sounds just like a T-Rex! (As much as we might guess a T-Rex would sound.)
Rusty wasn’t quick to open up to us at first. He was on his best behavior when he first arrived at the sanctuary from a research lab in Louisiana in 2019. No shenanigans, no monkeying around, no dinosaur roars. After a while, though, he started to show staff his more mischievous side.
Staff members were excited that Rusty was feeling more comfortable in his new home. They were a little less excited that he showed it by occasionally flinging poop at his caregivers. Sometimes, he still gets up to these hijinks. When caregivers look his way, he turns the other way and pretends not to notice. We’re just happy that he’s confident being himself around us!
Ext-roar-dinary Rusty
Caregiver Kalli Kohnen says that Rusty is truly “a one-of-a-kind chimp.” Lately, Rusty’s been carrying around a stuffed chimp. This behavior is usually more common in female chimps. When the stuffed chimp returned from washing day, Rusty was so excited that he got a little rough with it. His dinosaur-like rampage resulted in the plush losing an arm. But don’t worry—we replace the stuffed toy whenever it breaks.
Even in his old age, he can keep up with the other chimps! Rusty is proof that rest doesn’t make a chimp rust. He likes to relax in his villa, but he loves to play with the other males, too. Caregiver Miranda Ramirez says that he “has the energy of a much younger chimp.” He always tries to get staff to play peek-a-boo with him when they walk past his enclosure!
Rusty also loves watching staff complete chores that are boring to humans. He often gestures to staff members to ask what they’re doing when changing the trash bags or cleaning a window. Kalli says Rusty is fascinated by human boots, trash bags, and key chains.
Rusty’s ideal day would probably involve a game of peek-a-boo with the staff and a game of chase with his friends Kirk, Rocko, and Luke. He’d end the day swinging in his favorite spot with a carton of grape juice in one hand and an orange in the other. But a dinosaur birthday party wouldn’t be too bad, either!
An Un-fossil-gettable Dinosaur Birthday Party
This year, we’re celebrating Rusty’s 40th with a dinosaur birthday party! Rusty will enjoy some delicious and enriching “dinosaur eggs” (peanut butter and oats slathered over pinecones). He’ll celebrate surrounded by his cardboard dinosaur friends, which will be painted and constructed by our volunteers! Please join us in celebrating Rusty. He could very well be the closest living relative to the dinosaurs!
We’re so grateful for another year with this special guy. Here’s to another year of Rusty Roars!
Want to celebrate with Rusty? Make a donation in his honor today!
