Oliver The Famous Upright Walking Chimp (Humanzee) Died On June 2nd at Age 55 :-(
Sad news over the weekend everyone. Oliver, also known as "Humanzee" on the 2006 Discovery Channel documentary died last Saturday. He was 55 years old (which is remarkable compared to most chimps in captivity). The chimp was famous for walking upright, which is something that most chimps are capable of-- but Oliver was different, he did it
The DNA test results featured on the Discovery Channel documentary confirmed that he was just a normal chimpanzee. Although Oliver's his DNA confirmed him normal, "something" was different in his chromosomal structure differing him from all other primates -- but what, exactly, was not specified.
From www.mysanantonio.com:
Oliver, the chimpanzee who spent much of his life as part of circus shows or in research labs, was found dead Saturday in his bedroom at Primarily Primates, the sanctuary where he spent his last 14 years.
He was at least 55 years old, while the average lifespan for a male chimp in captivity is 35.
Oliver's girlfriend, Raisin, was by his side when caretakers found him, said Stephen Rene Tello, executive director of the sanctuary.
He came to Primarily Primates from a research lab in Pennsylvania in 1998. Tello said the lab didn't perform any studies on him during his decade there because the staff could tell he was special: “He was just on a different level; he had very humanlike traits.”
For one, Oliver walked upright almost all the time. His unique qualities drew international attention, and he was dubbed the “Humanzee,” touted as a missing link.
Oliver was the subject of a Discovery Channel documentary in 2006, and the character Caesar in last year's “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was said to be based on him.
“But for the last part of his life, he got to live in a safe haven — a nonexploitive, noncommercialized world where he was surrounded by people who love him and in companionship with others of his kind,” Tello said.
Shelly Ladd, enrichment coordinator at the sanctuary, said part of her job was to keep life interesting for the aging chimp, who was mostly blind, had no teeth and suffered from arthritis.
“He loved coconut sorbet — that got the biggest hoots and hollers,” she said. “But if he didn't like something, he'd hand the bowl back to you,” like the time he tried sugar-free pistachio pudding.
Tello said a “dignified final ceremony” has been planned. Oliver's body will be cremated, and the ashes spread over the sanctuary's grounds. And Raisin will be reintroduced to some old friends.
Does bring me a smidgen of sadness. I was just viewing a bunch of videos on him last week. I saw the documentary when it first aired and I found it interesting. I do NOT think he was a Human/Chimpanzee hybrid. He was just a rather "odd-fellow" to the highest degree. Very cool nonetheless.
ReplyDeletesad!
ReplyDeleteFunny how they say he always walked upright, but when you look at the last part of the documentation he is not standing up at all, but walking on all fours, like one would expect from a chimp.
ReplyDeleteGiven it could be due to his age, since his spine and hips were probably not made for walking like a human.
Interesting that his MtDNA seems so different, but testing it to only one control specimen is a bit odd, normally you would test chimps from different regions. MtDNA can tell a lot about an animal/human, but only with enough data!
To be fair, it was stated that it was something (walking upright) that he "almost" did all the time. I agree with the age comment you made. I also agree with the rest of you post.
DeleteHello all:
ReplyDeleteJust got off the phone with Jack Bindernagel. He was extremely choked up about this. I said "Jack are you doing ok" and his response was "I am trying to persevere, I will be a pall bearer at Oliver's funeral""Of course this means I have to go to the mall and get a black suit".
He went onto say that "Oliver accomplished more than most people, he walked upright all the time, Melba Ketchum can't claim to do that". "Despite being blind he also saw things a helluva lot clearer than Ketchum does as well". "Oliver was the inspiration for a character in the Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the only thing Ketchum ever inspired is contempt from real scientists".
The next time you speak to "Jack". Ask him what his thoughts are on Cliff Barackman's footprint discovery. Thanks in advance.
DeleteFrom an expert in the meaning of contempt. Knows nothing but still insists on denigrating others. Crawl back under the rock.
Deleteso long as he is consistent in his views...even Cliff Barackman's London Tracks...still waiting
DeleteInteresting the prior lab did not use him for research because he was different and more humanlike. Humm, b/c he walked on two legs and seemed smart?
ReplyDeleteThat makes the case for not using BFs for research, doesn't it?
There are still many primates in labs, 3,900 in Tom Slick's bio-med institute in Texas still.
Sad, sad this chimp had to live in captivity with in such circumstances.
Better to live a shorter life free I imagine..
This is the real deal, folks.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see a picture of the man who fathered that thing.
ReplyDeleteLooking at that very humanlike face it's not far fetched to imagine the sasquatch species is real. R.I.P. Oliver. :-(
ReplyDeleteOh Thank God!! we are safe from The Planet of the Apes Apes now that their leader has died.
ReplyDeleteOliver was a real animal. Bigfoot is not a real animal.
ReplyDelete