SF Zoo will not have chimpanzees for 1st time in 96-year history as they put program on hiatus

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The San Francisco Zoo is soon saying goodbye to Twiggy, a beloved female chimpanzee, and two others as they plan to temporarily close the chimpanzee exhibit and make room for a new program.

Chimpanzees get a lot of love at the San Francisco Zoo. Gombus, Michael, and Twiggy have been there since 2019.

“Twiggy is a crack up,” said Robbie Graham, Senior Curator of Mammals at the San Francisco Zoo.

The zoo announced Thursday it’s placing its chimpanzee program on hiatus. It will be the first time in the zoo’s 96-year history it’s been without chimps.

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“Our chimps–we’re looking to send them out to other facilities,” said Graham.

In the past few years, three senior chimpanzees have passed away.

After much discussion, zoo officials have decided it’s time for a change.

“So right now, species around the world are taking a tailspin for extinction. So, we are taking a look at numbers when spaces open up or when our senior chimps pass on what we want to do with these programs,” said Graham.

Twiggy will join a troop at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

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“She loves being an auntie. She likes being in troops where there are babies which is something we can’t provide here,” said Graham.

The two male chimpanzees, Michael and Gombus, will move together once they find a good home.

Zoo officials say they will bring back the chimpanzee exhibit in 5 to 10 years. It’ll be a new and expanded habitat.

“We’ll bring chimps back to the zoo and do a large multi-generational troop of chimps here,” said Graham.

The zoo says the change will allow them to focus on other great ape species.

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“This is Judy. That is Berani in the doorway,” said Graham about a pair of orangutans that are critically endangered. “We are doing a last-ditch effort to try and save the species.”

Zoo officials say its chimpanzee habitat will be converted to house orangutans.

“Our orangutans– we will be breeding next year, along with bringing in a Bornean orangutan, which are critically endangered and took a 60% decline in the last decade,” said Graham.

The zoo will also bring in a pair of white-cheeked gibbons, another primate species.

“It’s sad to see them go, but it’s a new home,” said Krista Kelly, a zoo visitor.

Twiggy will be leaving after the first of the year. So, guests still have time to go and say their goodbyes and wish her well.

ABC7 News I-Team reporter Dan Noyes actually spoke to the San Francisco Zoo 10 years ago when they were also considering moving their chimps to a different facility.

However, back then, they ultimately decided against it and chose to keep the three chimps Minnie, Maggie and Ccobby.