Chimp born at German circus and rescued from death arrives at Edinburgh Zoo

A chimpanzee born at a German circus has arrived at her new home at Edinburgh Zoo.

Babsie, an Eastern chimpanzee, arrived in Scotland in November from AAP Animal Advocacy and Protection in the Netherlands, who had rescued her from a circus when she was young.

The chimp performed in the circus alongside her sister Peggy, her parents and other adult chimpanzees.

AAP saved Babsie and her sister from being euthanised after the circus director passed away and his wife was no longer able to care for the animals.

Babsie is settling in at Edinburgh Zoo RZSS

After spending many years in Spain with her sister, the pair returned to the Netherlands but due to Peggy suffering from kidney problems, the decision was made to find a new home for Babsie.

Now 33, Babsie is settling in with some of Edinburgh Zoo’s female chimpanzees and will be gradually introduced to the rest of the troop at Budongo Trail.

The chimp habitat at the zoo combines a large outdoor area with climbing frame, and a series of indoor pods, each with varying conditions mimicking those of their native forests.

Introducing new chimps takes times, careful planning and knowledge of chimp behaviours, Edinburgh Zoo said, adding that the animals are highly territorial and have complex social structures, meaning intigration must be done slowly and methodically.

This includes visual introductions through protective windows and one-on-one initial meetings with individual troop members

Babsie’s introduction to the zoo comes as RZSS celebrates 20 years of saving chimpanzees in Uganda, wuth wld populations in decline due to habitat loss, poaching and disease.

Since 2005, RZSS – with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery – has partnered with the Budongo Conservation Field Station in Uganda which combines cutting-edge research with practical action on the ground to study and protect wild chimpanzees