For immediate release
Contact: Gina Stiles, 904-757-4463, ext. 210 (w); 904-655-3632 (c)

Former Jacksonville Zoo Chimps
Feel Right at Home in Their New Home

Jacksonville, Florida – January 2, 2008–  Officials at Oklahoma City Zoo report that Jackson, Cindy and Baby Face, the chimpanzees that called Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens home from as early as 1972 to 1980, have been successfully introduced to many of their new troop members. The chimps were transferred from Jacksonville to Oklahoma City on November 1, 2007.  The move was made to improve the quality of the chimps’ social life and to create more space for bonobos, a highly endangered species, at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. 

“Jackson was introduced to his first male friend, Mwami, on November 30, and they’ve been inseparable ever since,” said Jennifer Davis, supervisor of great apes at Oklahoma City Zoo. “Cindy and Baby Face were introduced to their new girl friends named Kito and Chloe and are now playing and grooming one another. Cindy has become very popular,” Davis continued. “Soon the boys will be introduced to the girls, and then more members will be added from the original Oklahoma group to become one big happy family.” 

“Many of our visitors have asked about these beloved chimps, and we are happy to be able to give them this good news,” commented Dennis Pate.  “We will report any updates and provide photos of the chimps on our Web site (jacksonvillezoo.org) as soon as they are made available to us.”

For over 90 years, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has been dedicated to inspiring the discovery and appreciation of wildlife through innovative experience in a caring environment.  Starting in 1914 with an animal collection that consisted of one red deer fawn, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has grown to house more than 1,500 rare and exotic animals and over 1,000 plant species. The Zoo is a non-profit organization and is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). Located on Jacksonville’s north side a quarter mile off I-95, the Zoo is open year-round, 7 days a week, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on the Zoo, log on to jacksonvillezoo.org.  

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