Little Mama facts for kids
Little Mama (born between 1937 and 1942, died on November 14, 2017) was a special chimpanzee who lived at Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, Florida. This area is close to West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County. In 1972, a famous expert on apes, Jane Goodall, thought Little Mama was about 30 to 35 years old. To celebrate her, the Safari decided her birthday was February 14, 1938.
Little Mama came to the Safari in 1967. Before that, she was an amazing performer, possibly even an ice skater in shows like the Ice Capades! Chimpanzees usually live for about 60 years. By 2012, Little Mama was one of the oldest chimpanzees living in zoos or sanctuaries. When she passed away in 2017, she was considered the oldest chimpanzee ever recorded.
Contents
Who Was Little Mama?
Little Mama was a female chimpanzee known for her long life. She lived a very interesting life, first as a performer and then as a resident at a safari park. Her story helps us learn more about how long chimpanzees can live.
Early Life and Performance Days
Little Mama was born sometime between 1937 and 1942. We don't know exactly where she was born. What we do know is that she had a unique start to her life. She spent time performing as an ice skater. This was a very unusual skill for a chimpanzee! It shows how smart and trainable these animals can be.
Life at Lion Country Safari
In 1967, Little Mama moved to Lion Country Safari. This is a large wildlife park in Florida. Here, she lived in a more natural setting. She was able to interact with other chimpanzees. This was a big change from her performing days.
Little Mama's Amazing Longevity
Little Mama lived for a very long time. Her exact age was a bit of a mystery. However, experts like Jane Goodall helped estimate her age.
How Old Was She?
In 1972, Jane Goodall estimated Little Mama was between 30 and 35 years old. Based on this, Lion Country Safari chose February 14, 1938, as her official birth date. This made her a very old chimpanzee.
Record-Breaking Age
Chimpanzees in the wild usually live for about 30 to 40 years. In captivity, they can live longer, sometimes up to 50 or 60 years. By 2012, Little Mama was one of the oldest living chimpanzees in the world. When she died in 2017, she was considered the oldest chimpanzee on record. This means she lived an incredibly long life for her species.
