Chimpanzee

HI, MY NAME IS MARCO

Date of birth: 1984
Place of birth: in captivity, Valencia
Date of arrival at MONA: February 26, 2001

Subspecies: Pan troglodytes troglodytes

He was owned by a trainer who trained and rented out his chimpanzees for advertisements, studio photos, films, circus shows… Behind the cameras he lived a life of hardship, locked up in a tiny cage in a truck, where other retired stars also lived.

He belongs to the first group rescued by MONA.

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ABOUT MARCO

His past

Marco was one of the chimpanzees that worked the most in recent years for his former owner, starring in advertising campaigns for well-known brands.

Unfortunately, postcards with photos of him as a child can still be found.

He lived for many years in a cage in a truck, enduring the inclement weather, locked up, eating and sleeping on his feces.

Already at MONA, at the beginning he hid every time he saw someone with a camera

A young Marco used for advertising

This was the last commercial he starred in

His present

He is an enigmatic individual and does not let himself be known easily. He is one of the most shy chimpanzees with people. But among his own he is an indispensable axis in social life. He is intelligent and watches over the peace of the group.

Due to his heart disease caused by malnutrition, Marco is a chronic patient and, as such, must take medication daily.

Her social life

He was once the leader of the group, but since a young Bongo dethroned him, he has become the lowest-ranking male in the group, so he always tries to be conciliatory to avoid getting into trouble.

He loves spending time with the females in the group, especially Waty, with whom he has a beautiful relationship.

Marco likes

  • Company

    He loves to enjoy long grooming sessions quietly in the sun.

  • Food

    If you see Marco walking, it's because he's looking for food and he usually fills his hands (and even his feet) with everything he finds.

  • Storms

    Like its wild counterparts, he welcomes stormy days with his particular rain dance.

Anecdotes

When Marco has his hands full of food, it is common to see him walk upright for several minutes at a time.

Anecdotes

When we received his DNA results we discovered that he is not Waty’s uncle as we thought, but he is Nico’s cousin or great-uncle.

Marco's group: Mutamba

Àfrica

Àfrica

Taken from the jungle as a baby, smugglers abandoned her to her fate in a cage at the port of destination.

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Waty

Waty

La vam rescatar del Circ Mundial Italià, estrella principal d’un dels seus espectacles amb animals.

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Marco

Marco

TV star, he lived more than 8 years locked up in a truck.

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Juanito

Juanito

He arrived when he was one year old and his integration into the group was recorded by National Geographic cameras.

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Bongo

Bongo

Rescued from the circus at the age of two, he arrived very thin and with a great fear of physical contact.

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