Today we celebrate the 60th anniversary of World Chimpanzee Day, a day that celebrates the first day Dr Jane Goodall stepped foot into Gombe Stream National Park. Jane entered a world unknown and her discoveries during this time revolutionised what was known about man’s closest living relative.

Two weeks prior to this iconic moment, on July 1st 1960 a Chimpanzee known as Spitter was born at Taronga Zoo Sydney. Spitter, now a great-grandmother, has just recently celebrated her 60th lap around the sun and is one of the oldest verified Chimpanzees living within a Zoo. She plays an incredibly important, matriarchal role within our Chimpanzee community of 20 individuals.

Our Chimpanzee community here at Taronga has long been regarded as a benchmark in the Zoo community, largely due to the way that they are managed. Our Chimpanzees exist in a multiple-male, multiple-female community 24/7 and this replicates what Dr Jane Goodall observed in wild Chimpanzee communities all those years ago.

Jane’s unparalleled knowledge and contribution to endangered wildlife, and her tireless work on behalf of a species on the brink, inspires thousands of people to have compassion and fight for conservation. We are proud to be partnered with the Jane Goodall Australia who are committed to helping Chimpanzees in the wild who are orphaned due to the illegal bush meat and pet trade.