Claudette’s move (see Sanctuary update above) was unusual for the JGI SA Chimpanzee Eden team as the Johannesburg Zoo’s professional team was in charge. Usually the Sanctuary team directs operations. This time, Eugene and Phillip were part of the audience. This bodes well for their future relationship with Claudette, who won’t associate them with the dart gun. Zoo vet Dr Michelle Barrows was in charge, assisted by Dr Brett Gardner and Sister Vanessa Anderson.

Also on hand was primate keeper Eckson Mhlala who looked after the chimp for many years, and says he will miss her. He and Claudette were close as she had been hand-reared and was therefore quite tame, unlike the mother-reared chimps in his care.

“I’m happy she’s going to the Sanctuary because she’s an outsider here,” said Eckson. “My home is in Bushbuckridge so I can visit her when I’m on leave. I have already visited Abu, Amadeus and Nikki.”