We Are Expecting!

Knoxville Zoo is eagerly awaiting a new addition to the chimpanzee troupe this
spring. Jackie, a 35-year-old female chimpanzee, is expecting and zoo staff anticipates she will give birth
in March or April of the new year.
Jackie came to Knoxville Zoo in March of 2008 from the Cleveland
Zoo. Upon her arrival, she was reunited with Jimbo, a male
chimpanzee who was her long-time companion in Cleveland before his
move to Knoxville in 2006. Jimbo and Jackie received a breeding
recommendation from the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which
manages the placement and reproduction of endangered chimpanzees
in zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
in the U.S. Nature took its course, and keepers estimate Jackie to be
between 16 and 20 weeks pregnant. The gestation period for
chimpanzees is typically 34 weeks.
“So far, Jackie has had a very healthy pregnancy,” says Lisa New,
director of animal collections for Knoxville Zoo. “She’s started
showing belly weight gain and is definitely more interested in food.
We’ve also noticed she is resting a bit more frequently. Her keepers
are monitoring her closely, and we’re optimistic that we’ll welcome a
healthy baby in the spring.”
Jackie and Jimbo share their Chimp Ridge home with seven other chimpanzees, including George, the
zoo’s year-and-a-half old baby who was the first chimpanzee born at Knoxville Zoo in 20 years. George
was also sired by Jimbo on a breeding recommendation with his mother, Daisy.