'Cobby,' Oldest Male Chimpanzee In U.S., Dies At 63 In CA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Cobby, a beloved male chimpanzee who was first brought to the San Francisco Zoo in the mid-1960s, died on Saturday at 63. He was the oldest male chimpanzee living in captivity in the United States.

Cobby had fallen ill recently, but officials have yet to publicly determine the cause of his death, but old age was likely a factor, the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens said in a statement.

The chimp captivated visitors for generations, and his caregivers say they will miss the way he bid them "goodnight" with a soft pant-hoot.

"Cobby was part of San Francisco," said Tanya M. Peterson, CEO and executive director for San Francisco Zoological Society.

Cobby has no living offspring of his own, but he was nicknamed "Papa" by his caregivers, zoo officials said. He leaves behind two female chimpanzee companions — Minnie and Maggie — with whom he has lived for more than 42 years. They are both 52 years old.

"His absence will be especially hard for them," officials wrote in a release from the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens.

A third chimp died in 2013, but the four were originally brought to the San Francisco Zoo in the mid-1960s together. They were first placed in the Triple Grotto, an outdoor moated exhibit that was once considered state-of-the-art.

"Our hearts are broken with this devastating loss," Petersen said in a statement. "Cobby was both a charismatic and compassionate leader of our chimpanzee troop. For so many years, he was a protective companion, demonstrating patience and resiliency."

Cobby was a performing chimpanzee before he arrived at his forever home, according to the zoo. Because he was raised by humans, his relationships with his caregivers were almost comparable to the connections he shared with his fellow chimps.

"He also was a favorite of visitors and staff, recognizing so many of us. He was one of the first animals whom I personally knew as director," Peterson said. "His death will be felt deeply by our staff, many of whom cared for him for decades."

In recent years, Cobby was able to accomplish surprising feats by adapting to and bringing together four new adult chimpanzees who were transferred to the zoo in 2018 and 2019. The newly integrated members brought the zoo's troop up to seven chimps for the first time in more than half a century, according to zoo officials.

"The expanded group successfully integrated, with much credit given to Cobby, the respected elder who was able to bring together this newly formed group," zoo officials said.

Zookeepers said Cobby often enjoyed resting on various platforms, chowing down on his favorite snacks and climbing up to hang out with "his favorite girl," Minnie — even as a senior.

Although Cobby lived until he was 63, the average life expectancy of a chimpanzee is just 33. Typically chimps can live 50 to 60 years old under human care, zoo officials said.

Chimpanzees are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation and Nature Red List, according to the zoo. They are among the most at-risk primates in Africa, which has a population of 100,000 to 200,000 chimps amid threats such as hunting, habitat loss and disease, officials said.

"He touched so many lives, and people have so many memories of him. He is irreplaceable, and our hearts are broken," Peterson said. "We will all miss seeing his handsome grey beard watching over us from the top platform of the yard."