Tammy the chimpanzee, the oldest animal at the North Carolina Zoo and a longtime favorite among both staff and visitors, has died at 55.
She had far outlived the 35-year life expectancy of chimps in the wild, zoo officials said Saturday, and veterinarians decided to euthanize her after she showed clear and continued signs of decline.
“Tammy was one of the most special animals I’ve had the honor to work with here at the zoo,” said Director of Animal Health and Chief Veterinarian Jb Minter. “She had a strong personality and didn’t give her trust easily, but when she did, it meant everything. Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I’ve faced in my career, but ensuring her comfort and welfare was always our top priority.”
Tammy came to Asheboro in 1992 from the Potawatomi Zoo in Indiana. She had three offspring while there and two more at the NC Zoo: Maki, who has since died, and Ebi, now at the Sedgwick County Zoo in Kansas…