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.

Thanksgiving 2018 - Our Long-Timer Chimps Had The Time Of Their Life!

Every night I go through my Facebook Memories,  because I post a lot of wonderful life moments. In 2018 Thanksgiving Day was on an earlier date.  On that day, one wonderful life moment included seeing our long-timer Chimpanzees Cobby, Minnie and Maggie, in their new Dayroom for the first time.  They were given access a couple times before, but Thanksgiving Day was the first time it was open to the public.  It was Amazing and Emotional.  It had been a long journey for these three to make it out of Triple Grotto into a new enriching area for them.

They hadn't yet made the transition to moving into their new night quarters attached to the Dayroom as unbeknownst to them, their first new friend (Qadeer) in fifty years, had already arrived and was quarantining there.  Nick, Twiggy, and Jamie would arrive the following year.

Thankful Cobby, Minnie and Maggie finally got a new home (Dayroom and soon after a new Yard), even though it was for a small fraction of their long lives at Our Zoo.  Sadly, it was something Tallulah never got to experience.  

Thankful for the part I played in helping this happen for them, by doing what I could to prevent them from being kicked-out by former Director Tanya Peterson.

This Thanksgiving is bittersweet for our three remaining Chimpanzees.  Four of their troop members have passed away, and this will be their last Thanksgiving, not only together, but in what was supposed to be their forever home.

Look for a future post celebrating the integration of their four new friends.  A joyous time when there was seven.  It will be a sad time when there are none.

Enjoy these videos from Thanksgiving Day 2018.

Cobby, Maggie and Minnie

https://youtu.be/rNZ-YoQp2bw

https://youtu.be/-J6TWOYbm3g

Something Seemingly Not Quite Right About Reason For Chimpanzee Transfer

I had planned to post this last weekend to flow immediately after my rant post about the same subject.  I had to pause, as I wasn't feeling well, and couldn't chance hyping myself up.  Even though this pretty much writes itself, now that I've put it together, I can feel my ears start pulsating a bit.  Glad it's done.  Unfortunate that it even had to be written.  

Last Thursday, the Zoo finally announced they were transferring out our three remaining Chimpanzees.  It had been two months since I posted about the move, which was at the time I found out from an outside entity.  

The announcement was reported by many news outlets, most containing the same information, which I assume came from a Zoo press release.

KRON's article contained these words...

As six became three, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for Chimpanzees made the recommendation to transfer Twiggy, a 39-year-old female, to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

“Twiggy has become a favorite among staff and guests here, but when a request of this nature comes in, we want to do what is best for the animal,” said Robbie Graham, senior curator of mammals at the SF Zoo. ... With the recommendation, zoo leadership made the decision to put a temporary pause on the chimpanzee program. The SF Zoo is currently working to find a home for the bonded males Gombus and Michael."

“With the recommendation to move Twiggy to Maryland Zoo, primate staff saw her departure as an opportunity to make an important decision – to temporarily halt the chimpanzee program, and focus on another Great ape species, the critically endangered Bornean orangutan,” the zoo said. 

From these words, two things are made clear from the Zoo's side.  They concede that transferring the Chimps out is based on a recommendation by the SSP.  As well, in my opinion, their words suggest there was already a plan in place to faze out Chimpanzees to focus on Orangutans.

After the passing of Our Maggie Chimpanzee, I wrote a post, "Are Our Chimpanzees At Risk For Leaving?"   I had the feeling or rather fear, that now with all our long-timer Chimps gone, (then) Director Tanya Peterson would try to send out our remaining three Chimpanzees. I talked to Staff and the consensus indicated my feeling was shared.  

For many years, I had a confidential agreement with the previous SSP Chimpanzee Coordinator, so I extended the same to the current one.  I asked several times if she wished our correspondence to remain confidential, and got no answer.  With that, I feel I did my part, and I'm comfortable sharing the information below.

On April 17, I emailed current SSP Coordinator, Tina Cloutier Barbour.  I explained my fear, and management history as to why I was feeling this was a possibility.  I also added some words about our remaining three.

"Our three Chimps have suffered four losses in four years, one being Twiggy's Sister.  They don't need a move to add further disruption to their lives.  When they came here, Qadeer, the first new Chimp in fifty years, came from a rough situation at his previous home.  Joe Knobbe, then Curator, worked hard to create a welcoming environment, with our male Cobby, and safe relationships with all three of our seniors, and then integrating Jamie, Twiggy and Nick beautifully when they arrived."

I asked two questions...

*Is it true that the SSP no longer has a minimum holding requirement?   That essentially the Zoo can maintain the remaining three, even if that isn't ideal?

*Has there been any inquiries from San Francisco to acquire additional Chimpanzees, or find new homes for our current three?

I received a reply on April 21.

Hi Kim,

To answer your questions: For all of the reasons that you outline below, the SSP does not have a hard & fast rule for minimum group size, though we do prefer that institutions hold at least 5 individuals. We do worry about a facility ending up with just 1 or 2 animals eventually, and for that reason, we make it a rule to prioritize recommending that they receive additional animals before we hit that tipping point. As such, we have tried to engage in conversations with San Fran about recommendations for additional animals but have not had any success (take from that what you will...) 

I hope that this answers your questions and gives you a bet understanding of the situation.

Many thanks, 

-Tina

From then until a month after the departure of Peterson, staff I engage with said they haven't been told anything.

On September 16, I emailed Tina again.  Noting the change in management, as well expressing that I hoped the Zoo had entered into conversation with her and expressed interest in at least bringing in another female since Twiggy is alone. 

I asked...

*Have there been talks since our last correspondence?   

The return reply is dated September 22.

Good morning, Kim-

At the request of San Francisco, we are working to move the remaining three chimpanzees out to other facilitates. We have located placement for Twiggy, and are working to find placement for the boys, who will not be separated. 

I hope that this helps clarify some things for you. Though we're sad to lose San Fran as a holder, we must work with our member institutions to adhere to their collection plans. 

Many thanks for your care & devotion to the chimpanzees, 

-Tina

So, you can see there is a huge discrepancy in what I was told by the SSP Coordinator, and what the SFZoo is telling the public.  

I am not up for a debate with Zoo Staff on this, but I feel this needs to be documented. Exposing the seeming lack of accurate transparency, isn't going to change the fact that we are losing our beloved Chimpanzees.  That said, I'm sad about this, and will be pissed forever at the chain of events that led to this.  I'm very disappointed in the spin the Zoo has seemingly put on this important situation.  

Related Posts:

*Are Our Chimpanzees At Risk For Leaving?

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/04/are-our-chimpanzees-at-risk-for-leaving.html

*For The First Time In It's History, Our Zoo Will Soon Be Without Chimpanzees

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/09/for-first-time-in-its-history-our-zoo.html

Our Zoo Has Reinstated Their Participation In Museums For All!

My post on November 10th, titled, "New Management Should Reinstate Our Zoo's Participation In Museums For All", was an effort to bring this issue to light for new Management, and reiterate for City Officials, in hopes to overturn this Tanya Peterson (former Director) offense. 

It took me over a week to send out emails, but last Wednesday I finally got letters sent to Interim CEO Cassandra Costello, Mayor Lurie, RecPark Commissioners, and the Board of Supervisors.  I urged them to reinstate the Zoo's participation in this program.

Today I got a message that the Zoo, had rejoined Museums For All!   

This is great news for all those in the Community who could only visit the Zoo as part of this program.   Good start to Giving Season!  

When I heard, I replied, "Looks like I got another thing there done!"   

They should hire me to get shit done.  Not going to lie, I'm not entirely joking.  

Now if only I could Stop Pandas, get better Barriers at Code Red Animal enclosures, see that Damn Perimeter Fence come down, and the Bison Sprinkler situation resolved.  Stopping Pandas is the only thing that might lessen the sting of losing Our Chimpanzees and Claudia (Condor) just a bit.  Only a bit.

Prior to the Zoo finally announcing the Chimp news and Claudia shocker, I told someone I didn't think I had another fight in me (like when I saved Our Chimps ten years ago).  That said, while it would cause drain on my health, if I honestly thought another fight for Our Chimpanzees would change anything, I'd do as much as possible, so they didn't have to step foot in transfer cages and leave what was supposed to be their forever home.

Related Post:

*New Management Should Reinstate Our Zoo's Participation In Museums For All

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/11/new-management-should-reinstate-our.html

Sad and Disgusted By Everything Right Now

If you read my post last night, you're aware there's a rant coming.  I deliberately left the rant as is, only tweaking construction and adding a word here and there for readability (as this was a voice dictation), because I feel it's representative of the chaos in my mind that Zoo issues present.  There are so many issues, past, present and that affect the future, and when they intersect, it's alot.  So as not to alter my rant, I haven't seen any news media reporting about yesterday's announcement.  I think a blog often serves as a public diary, so thoughts, are fluid from one entry to another.  With high energy reactions, I think presenting them in the moment is important as it shows emotion, passion, and most often in my case, also frustration and irritation.

Thursday November 20, 2025...  In one breath...

So I've been trying to write a blog post for the last two weeks regarding new Management, Chimps and Pandas and how it all relates.  After getting too hyped up, I abandoned.  Then this week I thought, okay maybe I'll tackle it again and then Monday KPIX posted a video to their YouTube page and again the interim CEO is talking about Pandas and revitalizing the Zoo.  You know what, I'm just disgusted by the whole thing. And in my longer version post which I'll still put out, because it does contain a lot of information and this post is basically a rant because I cannot hold it in, right in this moment. Everyone who's reading this can hopefully glean clear information from it, but it's run-on with all my thoughts that have been on loop, as I've also been in discussion with other Zoo Members who are friends of mine for the last seven hours and I'm not going to sleep like this.  I'm going to get it out and it's going to sound like a rant and I apologize.  Noting in my longer version I don't point fingers and I'm trying to not be judgmental with the interim CEO because I do hear good things about her but that said I don't see any of the good things.  I see our Zoo continuing to fall apart. The whole Panda thing is just outrageous but I again can't point fingers and fault her (yet) because this is probably the Zoo Board pushing Pandas is what I'm thinking, because otherwise why would a new management be going by the Peterson playbook as I call it?  I know that the majority of Animal Care Staff does not want Pandas.  They do not think it's a good idea.  I know that when Tanya (former Director) was still here, allegedly this was voiced to the Board.  They obviously don't care, everyone still thinks Pandas are going to be a great thing, it's going to bring in all this money, yadda yadda.   Allegedly, they've been warned by other places that have had Pandas about the expense, and that it's not a good idea.  It's just ridiculous and we're losing Our Chimps because of it, because of mismanagement on the Board's part supporting Tanya Peterson who never did any fundraising for redoing the Triple Grotto area before bringing in Orangutans and now they claim that they can't redo Triple Grotto unless Chimps are gone.  I disagree.  So then today while finally announcing this plan, I got blindsided by news that one of my besties is being moved too.  I am in a mood about this.  I am angry and sad.  Claudia (Condor) is reportedly being moved for breeding.  Un-fucking-believable!  Claudia is forty years old, was hand-raised, is imprinted on humans, she reportedly has no interest in a companion.  She came here temporarily while her longtime home was being renovated.  During that time Tanya (former Director) allegedly made some calls, and in my opinion basically kidnapped Claudia, by saying she wanted to keep her and breed her, getting the SSP to send a male here for her. When he got here she was moved off-exhibit, to "meet" him.  Introduction was never successful, reportedly (to my knowledge), there was no interest and they were never put together.  As far as I know, the male is still here.  So sending her to breed sounds cruel and unnecessary.  The Zoo should have said No, and tried to keep her.  But, hey, they didn't try to keep Our Chimps either, and they could have.  SSP told me they gave the option of sending additional Chimpanzees here.  It's bullshit they are leaving.  And I'm pissed at Peterson and the Board for never making Triple Grotto a priority.  After Chimps gone and Orangutans move to Chimps, there will be a fence around empty Triple Grotto for six years like that Madagascar disaster bullshit.  My heart breaks for the Chimps, and now what I feared would happen is.  I knew Twiggy already had a home and that they were still looking to find a place for the boys.  I just knew that she was going to go first and I expressed this to someone high level.  I was like, I fear that they will pack her up and crate her off and the boys are going to go nuts and they're going to wonder what's going on with her and then she's never going to come back and they're going to think something happened to her and grieve.  There is no way that is not going to happen.  Had they chose to crate them all together and they all saw that everybody was okay and the boys got to where they were going and Twiggy wasn't there at least they knew what the deal was.  They aren't stupid, they would know that they were sent somewhere and that she was sent somewhere, and that she didn't die,  but now taking her away from them with them not knowing what's going on, they're going to think something happened to her and it's horrifying to think that they're going to be put through a grieving.  And I'm not saying that I know everything about Chimpanzee behavior and that this is going to definitely happen but the scenario is very realistic in my opinion.   This is beyond upsetting.  So yeah, "revitalizing", I don't see it.  Other than Tanya Peterson not terrorizing employees and doing her general bullshit, mishandling of situations and negligence of basic non-care, I haven't seen anything different. They're getting rid of all of our Animals.  They say specifically that Claudia is a fan favorite, but they're sending her off?   So, what we're getting rid of fan favorites now?  Forget trying to build a caring and endeared Community with these actions. They can say No to SSP.  They could bring in a new male and try matchmaking with a new guy if SSP is hell bent on putting her through that.  It's Insanity.  I'm sorry people.  There are those that know me well, that I've had discussions with about the Chimps and I respect their position, but that don't mean that I agree with it and I definitely do not agree with what's going on, with the Chimps and now Claudia.  And in addition to that, I also had in notes to write about this, if that Panda Plan goes through and the Lions are going to get displaced, I can pretty much guarantee they're going to ship our Lions out because let's be real, they're not going to be building a new area for Lions, all they care about is getting Pandas.  They should be concentrating on redoing Triple Grotto so that we could have saved Our Chimpanzees, that's what they should have been concentrating on.  And in order to do all the construction that has to go on in The Lion's House, for Pandas,  the Ocelot will probably have to be moved out of there because there is some guideline that says Pandas can't be housed in the same area or within sight, or something, with other Animals.  So, we won't be able to see the Ocelot anymore, whether she will be moved off exhibit or moved out, who knows.  And that also then begs the question, What's going to happen with the loud construction noise being adjacent to the Snow Leopards?  Are we going to move the Snow Leopards off exhibit too?  So that's the Ocelot, the Snow Leopards and the Lions all in jeopardy.  We already have a Zoo with basically no Monkey's because of the Madagascar bullshit and now we're going to have a Zoo with No Cats?  All for Pandas!!! This whole thing is another shit show and it's disgusting.  Not only are they not going to be able to afford it, nobody seems to care about all the current Animals affected.  I'm so disgusted by everything right now.

Related Post:

*Status Update - Outraged By So Much

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/11/status-update-outraged-at-so-much.html

Status Update - Outraged At So Much

I couldn't let tonight end without saying something.  

I have had a post in draft for almost two weeks.  It covered Chimps, Pandas, and Management.  I had to abandon it last Saturday, as while I was working on it my blood pressure shot up to 177.  I immediately started watching Cat videos on Instagram and it dropped to 125.  I've had a rough four years, and have become even more sensitive to upset.  I can't have it. It's not healthy.  So, while I was desperate to get that post done it didn't happen and hasn't fully left my mind. I've been waiting for my weekend to start tomorrow, so I can tackle it.  

Well, there is apparently no Peace for those of us who care, and today as I exited the Zoo, I looked at my phone and had messages from four friends about the news.  Two months after I posted about it, the Zoo finally announced that they are transferring out Our Chimpanzees.  In the same announcement, I was blindsided by the news that Claudia the Andean Condor was also leaving.   This is huge for me as she is one of my besties.  I'd even use the term bonded, as we have spent alot of time together since her arrival almost eight years ago.  As much as I am pissed and sick about what is happening to Our Chimps, because of my connection with Claudia, I am more upset and saddened by this action.  

My initial dictation out on the road after reading this, is a pretty high energy run-on rant, that links together all that is happening at Our Zoo.  That was going to be tonight's post. Unfortunately, I think that typing out the words of that rant would have hyped me up too much.  In hindsight, I should have made a video.  

So, tomorrow I will hopefully start posting about all that's going on, which is in my opinion complete bullshit.  

I'm sad for me, and for others who care, and who are deeply endeared to Claudia and Our Chimpanzees.  As well other Animals that could be leaving or off exhibit in the near future.  

I'm sad for Our Zoo, because I don't think it's moving forward in a good direction.  I think destructive times are ahead, starting with what I hope will be public outrage.  

https://youtu.be/Z2y1wYKqScg

Related Post:

*For The First Time In It's History, Our Zoo Will Soon Be Without Chimpanzees

https://iamnotananteater.blogspot.com/2025/09/for-first-time-in-its-history-our-zoo.html