Today we have sad news to share with all of you.

Our beloved Charly suffered a heart attack on September 29th and although we fought for hours for his life, we could not do anything to save him.

We know that sudden death from a heart attack is the leading cause of death in healthy male chimpanzees. But we weren’t prepared for it to touch us so closely. Nor will we ever be.

Charly, we are very sad to have lost you in this unexpected way and for the years of happiness you had left to live with your family. But at the same time, we are happy to have been able to rescue you and to have shared and enjoyed 20 years with you. All of us who have been fortunate enough to know you can attest that you were a very special, sensitive and loving being. We are going to miss you so, so much.