SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Zoo has said goodbye to its four chimpanzees Pablo, Dougie, Amelia and Maria, zoo officials announced Saturday.
The four have moved to two new homes said to offer more socialization opportunities and be much larger than the Sacramento Zoo.
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums' (AZA) current standards recommend a minimum of eight chimpanzees to a troop. The Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP), which the Sacramento Zoo participates in, manages 229 animals at 33 AZA facilities.
“The Sacramento Zoo collaborated with colleagues throughout the AZA and specifically members of the Chimpanzee SSP to identify the best new homes for our individuals, and to work, plan for, and ensure, a safe and successful transfer,” Matt McKim, Sacramento Zoo's Director of Animal Care said in a statement. “Although it is difficult to see these beloved animals leave the Sacramento Zoo, their new homes and troops will provide excellent well-being for many years to come.”
According to the Sacramento Zoo, Dougie and Pablo have been fully integrated into the existing troop housed at the Kansas City Zoo in Missouri. Amelia and Maria were sent to an undisclosed, accredited zoo.
Chimpanzees have been a staple at the Sacramento Zoo for 75 years, but zoo officials say the move was in the chimpanzees' best interests.
“Chimpanzees have been some of our most popular animals for generations at the Sac Zoo,” Sacramento Zoo Director Jason Jacobs said in a statement. “While we will certainly miss these charismatic apes, it is important for the community to understand the context in which these decisions are made. Advances in the care of great apes in zoos clearly demonstrate that these animals thrive in social troops in larger habitats. I commend our incredible team of passionate caregivers for coordinating these transfers to new facilities.”
Watch more from ABC10: Elk Grove completes study on move and expansion of Sacramento Zoo
