The oldest chimp under human care, 62-year-old Betty, has passed away at Dublin Zoo. Zookeeper Helen Clarke Bennett narrated the tough choice they had to make to euthanise Betty due to the negative effect of ageing on her health. Helen had known Betty since the 1970s when her father Michael tended to the chimpanzees during her family visits to the zoo.
Over her six decades at the Dublin Zoo, Betty suffered from chronic arthritis and kidney problems, unresolvable through medical or surgical means. Although bidding farewell to her longtime friend left Helen feeling profoundly saddened, she remains convinced that the decision to euthanise Betty was the right one.
“There will never be another like Betty,” Helen stated of the West African chimpanzee who came to Dublin Zoo in 1964. According to Helen, the layout of the Zoo at the time was reminiscent of the early Victorian era. “Betty and her friends took part in the ‘Chimp Tea Parties,’ an echo from the past,” she said. Helen’s father, Michael Clarke, who looked after Betty then, recalled her assertive personality and unyielding drive to achieve her goals.
Betty wasn’t just assertive; she was protective too. Following the loss of his mother Kaylie, Betty took upon herself the protection of Austin’s son Bossou, the group leader. In recent years, even in her old age, Betty could be observed wrestling and grooming with Austin and Bossou.
While she had clear affection for both, Helen added that Betty continued to assert her dominance during feeding times. Being allowed first pick of the food, she would express her dissatisfaction through loud screeches if she didn’t get her way.
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