Oliver (chimpanzee) facts for kids

An early photo of Oliver that appeared in the media

Oliver (born around 1957 – died June 2, 2012) was a famous chimpanzee. He was once called a "missing link" or "humanzee" because he looked a bit like a human and often walked upright on two legs. Even though he looked and acted a little unusual, scientists later found that Oliver was a normal chimpanzee, not a mix of human and chimp.

Oliver's Early Life

Oliver was bought in 1970 by animal trainers Frank and Janet Berger. They believed he had been caught in the Congo. Oliver had a flatter face than other chimpanzees. He also walked on two legs much more often than other chimps. These things made the Bergers wonder if he was a special kind of chimpanzee. As Oliver grew older, he became too big and strong to live safely with the Bergers. So, they decided to sell him to a new owner.

Life at Theme Parks (1977–1989)

In 1977, Oliver's owner, Michael Miller, sent him to a small theme park called Enchanted Village in California. When Enchanted Village closed later that year, Oliver was still shown to the public at a new place called Gentle Jungle. The Los Angeles Times newspaper even wrote a big story about Oliver. They talked about him possibly being a "missing link" or a new type of chimpanzee. Oliver later moved to the Wild Animal Training Center. The last trainer to own Oliver was Bill Rivers. Rivers said that Oliver did not get along well with other chimps.

Time at Buckshire Corporation (1989–1998)

In 1989, Oliver was bought by the Buckshire Corporation. This was a laboratory in Pennsylvania that rented out animals for scientific studies. When Oliver arrived, his body showed signs of not being handled gently before. He was never used in experiments there. However, for the next nine years, he lived in a small cage. This small space made his muscles weak, and his limbs would tremble. In 1996, an animal sanctuary called Primarily Primates asked for Oliver to be retired. The president of Buckshire Corporation agreed. Oliver then moved to a larger area with 13 other chimpanzees.

Oliver's Retirement at Primarily Primates (1998–2012)

In 1998, Oliver moved to Primarily Primates. This sanctuary was founded in Texas in 1978. Oliver was older, had trouble seeing, and suffered from arthritis. But at Primarily Primates, he had a large, open-air cage.

In 2006, Oliver was temporarily cared for by Lee Theisen-Watt. She was helping to manage Primarily Primates during some changes. In 2007, a new group of people took over the management of the sanctuary. Oliver continued to live at Primarily Primates while the facility was improved. News articles often talked about Oliver and how well he was being cared for. He lived the rest of his life peacefully at the sanctuary.

Oliver's Final Years and Passing

Oliver spent his last years with another chimpanzee named Raisin. She was a gentle female who became his companion. Oliver was old and had spent years in a lab. This made him arthritic and mostly blind. Because of this, he could not play daily with the younger, more active chimps.

His caregivers often shared updates and photos of Oliver online. He enjoyed fun activities like a watermelon smashing party. He even had a chance to paint! Even though he was elderly, Oliver could go outdoors. He lived his final years in quiet retirement. Oliver died peacefully in his sleep on June 2, 2012. Raisin was found next to him. He was at least 55 years old. The director of Primarily Primates said Oliver would be cremated. His ashes would be spread on the sanctuary grounds.

Scientific Genetic Testing

In 1996, while Oliver was still at the Buckshire Corporation, a scientist from the University of Chicago studied his DNA. The tests showed that Oliver had 48 chromosomes. This is the normal number for a chimpanzee. This proved wrong an earlier idea that he had 47 chromosomes. (Humans usually have 46 chromosomes.)

Another study looked at Oliver's head shape, ear shape, freckles, and baldness. These features were all found to be normal for a common chimpanzee. More genetic tests were done. They showed that Oliver's DNA was very similar to that of the central chimpanzee subspecies. This type of chimpanzee lives in places like the Republic of the Congo and Gabon in Central Africa.

• The Story of Oliver: an online video about Oliver made by Primarily Primates.

See also

In Spanish: Oliver (chimpancé) para niños