59-Year-Old Chimpanzee Refuses Food and Cries Until She Hears a Familiar Voice

antonfoek

There was serious concern at the Royal Burgers’  Zoo in Arnhem. Mama, the 59-year-old chimpanzee  matriarch, had refused to eat or drink for  several days. Her condition was rapidly worsening,  and the zoo staff felt time was running out.  In this tense atmosphere, the arrival of a  familiar person was about to change everything. Mama was not just an ordinary zoo resident. She  was a living legend, a respected leader of  a thriving colony of chimpanzees.

However,  age was taking its toll, and Mama’s  health began to fail her. Despite all  the efforts of the staff and veterinarians,  her condition continued to deteriorate. The  zoo staff was in despair. They remembered how  Mama had bravely endured many challenges over  the years and could not come to terms with  the thought of her passing. Unfortunately,  they understood it was a natural process  and could only ensure she was as comfortable  as possible during these difficult days. It was especially hard to realize that Mama would  never know the enormous impact she had on the  lives of people and science in general. Born in  the wild, she became part of pioneering research  on primate behavior from the moment she arrived  at the zoo. Her life in captivity was part of a  large program to preserve the chimpanzee species. 

Mama was born in the wild but was orphaned early  due to poachers. She was rescued and brought to  the zoo, where she became the focus of primate  behavior research. At the zoo, Mama quickly  adapted and demonstrated exceptional intelligence.  She formed strong bonds with both her kind and  humans. Her leadership skills and care for others  made her a key figure in maintaining harmony  in the colony. Mama taught young chimpanzees  important survival and social interaction skills. Mama developed an especially close relationship  with Professor Jan van Hooff, a renowned  primatologist. He met her in 1972 when he was  involved in setting up the chimpanzee colony  at the zoo.

A unique bond developed between the  young scientist and the charismatic chimpanzee,  based on mutual respect and affection.  Jan often visited Mama, spending long  hours observing and communicating with her. Years passed, and Mama grew older. In 2016,  when she was already 59 years old, her  health suddenly declined. She stopped  eating and became so weak that she barely moved.  The zoo staff was in despair—it seemed Mama was  living her last days. They informed Jan  van Hooff, who had long since retired. Upon hearing the sad news, Jan immediately went  to the zoo despite his advanced age. He felt he  had to see Mama one last time. It was not just a  scientific mission but a deeply personal need—to  say goodbye to a creature that had become an  important part of his life.

When Jan arrived  at the zoo, he was warmly welcomed by the staff  and led to Mama’s enclosure. She lay motionless  with her eyes closed. Her frail body was a stark  contrast to the energetic image Jan remembered.  He quietly called her name,  but there was no response. Jan did not give up. He began to hum a familiar  tune he often sang during his visits. And then a  miracle happened—Mama’s ears twitched, and her  eyes slowly opened. She turned her head with  difficulty and looked at Jan. Recognition  flickered in her gaze. Encouraged by this  reaction, Jan continued to sing a little  louder and talk to Mama. He told her stories  from their shared past—about their first days  of acquaintance, funny incidents, and amazing  discoveries. His words seemed to pierce through  the fog of weakness and bring Mama back to life. Suddenly, Mama weakly moved her hand. It was  barely noticeable, but it did not escape Jan’s  attentive eyes. He carefully took her hand, and  Mama slightly squeezed his fingers. This simple  gesture said a lot—about the deep bond between  them, about trust and affection. The zoo staff  watched the scene in amazement. They could not  believe their eyes—Mama, who had shown no signs of  life for several days, was now responding to Jan’s  presence. Hope began to stir in their hearts. Jan continued to talk to Mama, gently stroking  her hand. He noticed that she was looking at a  specific corner of the enclosure. Following  her gaze, Jan saw a small pile of straw and  leaves. Intrigued, he carefully approached it and  began to sift through the straw. To his surprise,  Jan discovered a hidden stash of food—pieces of  fruit, nuts, and even primate cookies. It became  clear that Mama had saved this food for a rainy  day. This discovery deeply moved Jan—even in such  a weakened state, Mama retained her instinct for  self-preservation and showed incredible foresight. Jan shared this finding with the zoo staff. They  quickly incorporated this information into their  care strategy for Mama. They began offering her  small portions of her favorite foods to support  her strength and stimulate her appetite. 

Gradually, Mama began to eat. At first,  very little, but more each day. Her condition  slowly but surely improved. She became more  active, started to show interest in her  surroundings. Other chimpanzees in the colony,  noticing these changes, also became livelier  and began to pay more attention to Mama. Jan visited every day. He spent long hours  with Mama, talking, humming familiar tunes,  and just being there. Their bond seemed  even stronger. Mama recognized Jan,  reached out to him, responded to his voice. One day, as Jan sat beside Mama, it dawned  on him. He realized why she held on to life,  why she hid food. Mama was waiting for his  return. Deep down, she knew he would come  and saved her last bit of strength for this  meeting. This realization deeply touched Jan.  He understood how strong their connection was,  how deep Mama’s emotions and intellect were.  He shared his thoughts with the zoo staff,  and this discovery gave them all new strength  and determination to fight for Mama’s life. Days turned into weeks. Mama gradually  recovered. She began moving more,  interacting with other chimpanzees. Her  eyes sparkled again, showing interest  in life. The zoo staff was overjoyed with these  changes. Jan continued to visit Mama every day.  Their communication became even deeper and more  emotional. It seemed they understood each other  without words. Mama often sat next to Jan, holding  his hand and listening carefully to his stories. News of Mama’s miraculous recovery quickly spread  through the scientific community. Many researchers  came to the zoo to see this amazing chimpanzee  and interact with her. Mama became a true star,  a symbol of the strength of spirit and deep  connection between humans and animals. The  zoo organized a special program dedicated to  Mama.

Visitors could observe her and learn  about her life and achievements. Many people  were deeply moved by the story of Mama and  Jan and began to see primate conservation  and animal rights issues in a new light. Jan wrote a book about his experience  with Mama. In it, he talked about her  remarkable intelligence, emotional depth,  and ability to form true friendships. The  book became a bestseller and inspired many  people to treat animals more humanely. Mama lived a few more happy weeks.  She remained the zoo’s favorite,  a wise leader of the chimpanzee colony, and Jan’s  faithful friend. Her life was filled with love,  care, and attention. When the time came for Mama  to leave, she was surrounded by love and care. Jan  was with her until the last moment. Mama passed  away peacefully, holding Jan’s hand and looking  into his eyes with deep affection and gratitude. After Mama’s death, the zoo organized a memorial  in her honor. People from all over the world  sent their condolences and shared memories of how  Mama’s story changed their lives. Many charitable  organizations received donations in her memory. Mama’s legacy lives on today. Her story  inspires researchers, conservationists,  and ordinary people. She showed the world how deep  relationships between humans and animals can be,  how important it is to treat every living being  with respect and love. The Royal Burgers’ Zoo  now has a special educational center named  after Mama. Here, visitors can learn about  the lives of chimpanzees, their intelligence,  and emotional world.

The center also supports  primate conservation programs in the wild. Jan van Hooff, despite his age, continues his  work as an active animal rights advocate. He  often gives lectures, sharing his experience  with Mama and urging people to treat animals more  consciously and humanely. The story of Mama and  Jan has become a symbol of how love and friendship  can overcome any boundaries—even between different  species. It reminds us that every living  creature has a soul worthy of respect and care.