Her past

In July 2015, there was an unfortunate escape at the zoo where she lived, and Cheeta was the only survivor.

The park managers decided that this was detrimental to the chimpanzee, as they are highly social animals, and, in the interest of finding the best solution for her, they contacted us so that Cheeta could form a new family at our center and not have to live alone for the rest of her life. And not only that, they have also offered to help MONA by covering Cheeta’s costs for life.

Her present

When she arrived she weighed over 90kg and still impresses everyone with her size. She is a very large female, even more than many males. But with a balanced diet she has lost all the excess weight and is back in shape. She is calm, quite independent, and is not afraid to show her temperament when necessary.

Her social life

She is very socially intelligent. When she met her future companions, it was all games, kisses and hugs. She gets along well with all the other members of the group, but from the very beginning there was a special connection with Coco, who has become a great friend. Over the years she has gained confidence and, at times, can be less friendly in introductions to new chimpanzees than when she was the new one. But, once the limits are established, she lives and lets live.