News Story About Where Twiggy (Chimpanzee) Is Moving To

I have a google news alert set for "sfzoo".  I try to scan it every night, but missed some recently and ended up getting a bit behind.  This video news report out of Baltimore interviews the Maryland Zoo staff and shows their Chimpanzee Family, the troop Our Twiggy will soon be joining.  Her departure, and the boys following (when their new home is identified), is sad for me, but this news story made me feel better about the life our precious Twiggy will have there.  I knew she was going to a place where she knew a staff member and an old Chimp friend, but seeing this helped soften the sadness, and made it bittersweet.

December 3, 2025

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/maryland-zoo-welcome-motherly-chimp-chimpanzee-forest/69621280

Article Text

Maryland Zoo set to welcome motherly chimp to 'Chimpanzee Forest' exhibit

Keepers at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore are preparing to welcome an older chimpanzee from the San Francisco Zoo.

At the zoo's "Chimpanzee Forest," the troop of 12 females and four males is about to get bigger. Twiggy will soon arrive in the coming months, and it turns out, she will reunite with some old friends.

"Abbey is carrying Ivy, she's Ivy's foster mom, and then, following them around is Lola," Pamela Carter, the zoo's area manager of the "Chimpanzee Forest," said as she toured WBAL-TV 11 News around the exhibit. "We'll be adding one more girl, with Twiggy."

Twiggy, who will be 40 years old at the end of the month, is coming to Baltimore early next year from the San Francisco Zoo, which temporarily halted its chimpanzee program.

"I'm sure they'll be very excited to see her, as well. Chimps have amazing memories. They have a lot better long-term memory than humans do," said Carter, who is also on a Chimp Species Survival Plan Management Committee that helped facilitate the move to Baltimore.

Carter told WBAL-TV 11 News that Twiggy is a good fit for a few reasons: First, familiarity, as Carter and another staff member worked with her at a zoo in Tampa, Florida, where she also got along well with two other chimps, Abbey and Alex, who are also now at the Maryland Zoo.

"She's good with babies. So, giving her opportunities to be in a troop that has babies would be very beneficial to her," Carter told WBAL-TV 11 News. "She is what we consider an older chimp, not geriatric but older. She also had a hip dislocation a year and a half ago, which has healed. She's on a physical therapy training program, which we actually also do here with one of our older females."

The older female, named Joyce, is the zoo's oldest chimp at age 53. She gets regular yoga for physical therapy as she ages.

One unexpected issue Carter has run into is that Twiggy has an allergy that will affect the rest of the troop.

"She is highly allergic to mangoes, so that will be something we will have to adjust with our troop, because they really like mangoes," Carter told WBAL-TV 11 News.

Twiggy is expected to arrive in Baltimore in mid-January, and she will have a 30-day quarantine before the introduction process begins.

"I am expecting (for) it to be fairly straightforward. She's a very easygoing animal. She's not one that likes to start altercations or get into fights," Carter told WBAL-TV 11 News. "It'll be fun."

Museums For All Participation Update

Well, I happened upon some curious information this week, and feel I should share it, so no one comes to the Zoo and is blindsided. 

As I *posted on November 25th, I was informed that the Zoo had rejoined the Museums For All program.

When I visited this week, and walked by the Membership Office, I thought I'd confirm whether or not the low-income Community Discount Membership had also been reinstated, or if there were plans to do so.  I had planned to earlier, but never got that far on my to-do list.  Anyway, the office was closed, so I proceeded to ask someone at the ticket window.  They flat-out said, "Not in Museums For All".  I was shocked.

So, at this time, apparently there are no discounts using EBT for day entrance or membership.  Very disappointing news.  I apologize if my previous documentation caused anyone hardship.  I never thought it could be premature to share, as it would seemingly be something that could go into immediate effect, since it's basically a clerical action.  

I called the Membership Office a couple times, no answer, and no response to phone messages or email inquiry.  I'll update when and if I receive responses or otherwise hear something.  

Additionally, I did then check the San Francisco Human Services Agency's Museums For All website to view list of participants, and the Zoo is not listed.  That said, neither is **CalAcademy and to my knowledge, there has never been a break in their participation, so who knows when that list gets updated. Worth a mention that the RecPark Dept, which the Zoo is part of, is listed as a Sponsor of the program, and there are also four other department facilities/attractions that participate.

With this development, in hindsight I realized it was odd that the Zoo had not announced the program return, but they also never announced the Membership perk when it was created in Summer 2024. 

Considering the lack of communication from the Zoo Membership office, I of course wondered, what gives?  Is there a delay between reinstating and taking effect?  Or, is the Zoo waiting until the new year, to take advantage of full price holiday attendance?  I hate to think the later, and it purely comes from a past management jaded point if view.  If they have indeed rejoined the program, not having it available to families now, during the season of giving, certainly does nothing to working toward building community.

Related Post:

*Our Zoo Has Reinstated Their Participation In Museums For All!

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/11/our-zoo-has-reinstated-their.html

**CalAcademy Affordable Access Programs (listed on website)

EBT benefit: As part of the Museums for All cooperative, the Academy offers discounted $5 Daytime Admission and NightLife (21+) tickets and $49 Family memberships to EBT cardholders every day of the year. Museums for All tickets and Family memberships are not available online and must be purchased at the Academy ticket window. Limit 4 (1 for NightLife) per group per visit.

Discover & Go: Library cardholders 14 and older can check out passes good for free Academy admission at participating libraries from San Francisco to Sacramento. Select your library system and log in, or contact your local branch for details.