Zoo Knoxville loses “BINTI” chimpanzee
Published June 30, 2023; 4:38 p.m.

38-year-old female humanely euthanized after
terminal illness diagnosis

Binti the chimpanzee; courtesy of Zoo Knoxville

KNOXVILLE - Zoo Knoxville is saddened to announce the death of “Binti”, a 38-year-old female chimpanzee on Thursday, June 29, 2023.

On Wednesday, Binti’s caregivers observed she was very pale and lethargic. An examination by the veterinary team revealed some internal bleeding and a large mass on her liver. She was transported to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) on Thursday for a CT scan to determine the extent of the mass for possible surgery. Upon review of the scan, the mass was too large and invasive to be surgically removed. When it was realized that further intervention would not improve her quality of life, the decision was made to humanely euthanize her. She was surrounded by her human care team until the end.

Binti was returned to Zoo Knoxville to allow the chimpanzee troop time to grieve before her body was taken to UTCVM for necropsy. The Great Apes care team will continue to monitor and support them as they adjust to the loss.

“We are all saddened by the loss of Binti,” said Phil Colclough, Director of Animal Care, Conservation and Education. “Her care team made sure she left this world comfortably and with dignity because that is our commitment to the animals we are entrusted with. It is still an incredibly difficult decision to make, and we are grateful for the kindness and support of our community who cared for her, too.”

Binti came to Zoo Knoxville in 2008 from the Cleveland Zoo. She was a sweet, friendly presence in the troop. In April, 2022, she gave birth to a female chimpanzee named Stevie. Stevie is being raised by two surrogate mothers, Daisy and Jambo, when Binti was unable to care for her immediately following her birth. She continues to grow and thrive under the watchful eyes of Daisy and Jambo.

Chimpanzees are an Endangered species, and being driven to extinction by habitat loss, disease, and their biggest threat, illegal poaching. Zoo Knoxville is working in partnership with 32 other zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to ensure a healthy population remains in our care as hope for the future.

Zoo Knoxville is a nonprofit entity situated on 53 wooded acres just east of downtown Knoxville. Zoo Knoxville features exhibits of wild animals in natural habitats and is world renowned for its efforts in conservation and species survival. Zoo Knoxville is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Knoxville’s largest attraction, the zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. For more information visit zooknoxville.org.