‘Feisty but sweet’: KC Zoo mourns death of one of its oldest animals, who was 55

She lived a good life, as far as zoo chimps go. A mother of eight and a grandmother.

Blackie, one of the oldest chimpanzees in any of accredited Association of Zoos & Aquarium zoos, was euthanized on Friday at the Kansas City Zoo. She was 55.

“It is with great sadness that we report that one of the Zoo’s beloved chimpanzees . . . passed away Friday,” the zoo reported Monday in a press release.

The average life expectancy of a chimpanzee in captivity is 37. Blackie was euthanized “due to her declining health,” the zoo statement said.

Born in Africa, the female chimp came to the Kansas City Zoo in 1966. She is the mother of eight offspring, including Kioja, still part of the zoo’s troop of 12 remaining chimps. She is grandmother to COTU, an acronym for Center of the Universe, a female who turned 11 in September.

The next oldest chimp on display at the zoo is Lucy, age 31, born in July 1987.

“Her devoted human caregivers will especially remember Blackie for her feisty but sweet personality,” the zoo said. “She loved snow and bubble baths and was a favorite of the zookeepers who worked with her. She will be deeply missed.”

This story was originally published November 19, 2018 at 10:42 AM.