List of individual apes

This is a list of non-human apes of encyclopedic interest. It includes individual chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, bonobos, and gibbons that are in some way famous or notable.

Actors

J. Fred Muggs (a chimpanzee born 1952) was a "co-host" with Dave Garroway on NBC's Today Show in the 1950s.
Jiggs, a chimpanzee, was the first Cheeta in the Tarzan films in the 1930s.
Jimmy, a chimpanzee, appeared in the film Dark Venture
Joe Martin, an orangutan, appeared in several silent-era American films
Pankun (パン君, born October 1, 2001), a chimpanzee, was featured in Japanese TV shows Tensai! Shimura Dobutsu-en (Genius! Shimura Zoo) and the TBS program Dobutsu Kiso Tengai! (Unbelievable Animals!) with bulldog James, (active 2005–2012).
Peter (active 1907–1910)—a chimpanzee vaudeville performer who was studied by Lightner Witmer
Sam (1989–2010), an orangutan, played Dunston in the 1995 movie comedy Dunston Checks In; he was trained by Larry Madrid.^[1]
Tonka, the chimpanzee subject of the HBO documentary series (2024) Chimp Crazy. Tonka appeared in films Buddy, George of the Jungle, and Babe: Pig in the City. As of 2024, Tonka is living at Florida sanctuary, Save the Chimps.^[2]
Travis, a chimpanzee, gained fame through parts he had in commercials (Old Navy and Coca-Cola) in the 2000s, but was shot by police following a brutal attack on a 55-year-old woman in Stamford, Connecticut.^[3]

Artists

Congo (1954–1964)—chimpanzee, abstract impressionist of the late 1950s
Koko (1971–2018)—gorilla, widely believed to be able to communicate with humans through sign language
Michael (1973–2000)—silverback gorilla, impressionist painter, was taught American sign language with Koko
Peter, alias Pierre Brassau, a chimpanzee, was the subject of a famous hoax through which the chimpanzee's paintings were presented as the avant-garde works of unknown French (human) artist "Pierre Brassau".

Science and exploration

Abang (born 1966)—orangutan, taught to use and make a stone tool (cutting flake)
Ai (born 1976)—chimpanzee, studied by scientists at Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University
Ayumu (born 2000)—chimpanzee, studied by scientists at Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University
Bonnie—orangutan, began whistling (mimicking an animal caretaker), which is changing ideas about primate sound repertoires
Chantek (1977–2017)—orangutan, involved with language research and ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador
Enos (died 1962)—chimpanzee, 1961 NASA Project Mercury orbiter, the only chimpanzee and the third primate to orbit the Earth^[4]
Flo (died 1972)—chimpanzee, key member of the Kasakela Chimpanzee Community studied by Jane Goodall; received an obituary in the Sunday Times
Frodo (1976–2013)—chimpanzee, baby-eating "bully", attacked Jane Goodall and Gary Larson
Gua—chimpanzee; raised as a child by the Drs. Kellogg alongside their son Donald
Ham (1956–1983)—chimpanzee; the first great ape to successfully travel to space, Ham's 1961 NASA Project Mercury suborbital flight occurred 11 months before Enos' orbital mission.
Jenny—orangutan, encountered and described by Charles Darwin in March 1838 at London Zoo.^[5]
Kanzi (1980-2025)—bonobo, involved with language research and tool invention, ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador
Koko (1971–2018)—gorilla, involved with sign language research and ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador
Lana—chimpanzee, reared at Yerkes National Primate Research Center as part of its language analogue project
Loulis—chimpanzee, involved in ape hand-signing research
Lucy—chimpanzee, cross-fostered and raised by University of Oklahoma psychotherapist
Moja—chimpanzee, involved in ape hand-signing research
Nim Chimpsky (1973–2000)—chimpanzee, named after linguist Noam Chomsky
Nyota (born 1998)—bonobo, Panbanisha's son
Oliver (1957–2012)—chimpanzee, the so-called "Missing Link", apparent "humanzee"
Panbanisha—bonobo at the same research center as Kanzi
Panpanzee (1985–2014)—chimpanzee at the same research center as Kanzi
Poco (1981)—chimpanzee researched by Robin Crompton whose early confinement resulted in human-like bipedality
Sarah (1959–2019)—research chimpanzee whose cognitive skills are documented in The Mind of an Ape
Sultan—chimpanzee, used in classic Kohler tool-use studies
Titus (1974–2009)—gorilla, an extensively observed silverback mountain gorilla
Viki—chimpanzee, one of the first apes used in ape language experiments
Washoe (1965–2007)—chimpanzee, pioneer ape of hand-signing research

Zoo notables

Alfred the Gorilla (1928–1948) lived in Bristol Zoo.
Ah Meng (1960–2008) was a female Sumatran orangutan and a tourism icon of Singapore.
Azalea, a chimpanzee living at the Korea Central Zoo known for her ability to smoke cigarettes
Bill (1946–2007), a long-lived chimpanzee, resided at Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California, for 50 years.^[6]
Binti Jua, a gorilla living in Brookfield Zoo, saved a boy in 1996.
Bobo (1951–1968), a western lowland gorilla, lived in the Lowman family home in Anacortes, Washington, from his infancy until 1953, and then Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle until his death.
Bokito (1996–2023), a silverback gorilla, escaped from the Blijdorp Zoo on 18 May 2007 and injured a woman.
Bushman, a famous gorilla from Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, died in 1951. While alive, he brought over 100 million visitors to the zoo; his taxidermic remains can now be seen at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History.^[7]
Charles (1972–2024), a wild-born silverback western lowland gorilla, renowned for his artwork, since 1974. Resided at the Toronto Zoo.
Charlie (1958–2010), a chimpanzee in a South African Zoo, was taught to smoke and was able to walk upright.^[8]
Colo (1956–2017) was both the first gorilla born in captivity and, living to be 60, the oldest gorilla in captivity. She was born in the Columbus Zoo and lived there her entire life.
Gust (1952–1988) was a Congolese gorilla that became an icon of the Antwerp Zoo
Guy the Gorilla (1946–1978) was a famous gorilla in London Zoo.
Harambe (1999–2016) was a gorilla shot dead by the Cincinnati Zoo after a child fell into his enclosure.^[9] This would eventually lead to the deceased ape becoming a popular Internet meme.
Ivan (1962–2012) was a western lowland gorilla who lived in a shopping mall in Tacoma, Washington, who was also the inspiration for the 2012 book The One and Only Ivan, which was then drafted into a 2020 film of the same name.
Jambo (1961–1992), a gorilla, cared for a boy who fell into his enclosure.
Jenny (1953–2008), a western lowland gorilla, lived at the Dallas Zoo from 1957 until her death, and was the oldest gorilla in captivity at the time of her death.
Jo Mendi II (1939–1980), a chimpanzee at the Detroit Zoo who became known as "the greatest performing chimp of all time."^[10]
Julius (born 1979), a chimpanzee at Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park known for living his childhood with a human family.
Jumoke (1989–2008)—western lowland gorilla and the granddaughter of Colo
Karen (born 1992), a Sumatran orangutan, who was the first zoo animal to have open heart surgery at the San Diego Zoo in 1994.^[11]
Ken Allen (1971–2000)—Bornean orangutan at the San Diego Zoo known for his escape artistry
Little Mama (1938–2017) — chimpanzee, and believed to be the oldest chimpanzee on record
Louis, a male western lowland gorilla known for walking upright in order to avoid muddying his hands. Currently resides at Zoo de Granby in Granby, Quebec.
Massa (1930–1984) — silverback, one of the longest-lived gorilla ever recorded, and second-longest-lived male in captivity, died at age 54
Max (1971–2004) — gorilla in the Johannesburg Zoo, famously apprehended a criminal in 1997, getting shot twice in the process
Ndume, a male western lowland gorilla known for learning a limited amount of a modified version of American Sign Language (ASL) and for being at the center of a lawsuit. Currently resides at Cincinnati Zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Ozzie (1961–2022) — western lowland gorilla the Zoo Atlanta.
Pattycake (1972–2013), first baby gorilla born in New York, mother of 10, later died in captivity at Bronx Zoo
Rita (c. 1928–1940), chimpanzee at Tennōji Zoo
Sandra (1986–) — orangutan involved in historic legal case in Argentina involving personhood for nonhumans
Sami (1979–1992) — chimpanzee at the Belgrade Zoo, known for escaping his enclosure twice in February of 1988
Samson (1949–1981)—for many years the face of the Milwaukee County Zoo, one of the largest silverback gorillas on record, weighing 652 lbs. (296 kg) in 1973^[12]
Santino, a male chimpanzee at Furuvik zoo in Sweden, was notable for having the cognitive skills for forward planning (calmly collecting stones, and later throwing them at visitors).
Shabani, a male western lowland gorilla known for his "photogenic" and "metrosexual" appearance, as well as his talent for tightrope walking. Currently resides at the Higashiyama Zoo in Nagoya, Japan.
Snowflake (1964–2003), the only known albino lowland gorilla.
Susie (1931 –1947) Cincinnati Zoo. One of the most popular animals at the zoo until her death on October 29, 1947.
Timmy (gorilla) (1959–2011), died at 52 as the oldest male gorilla in North America
Willie B. (1959–2000), a silverback gorilla kept in isolation for 27 years, became head of a troop and father of five.

Circus use

Gargantua (1929–1949)—acid-scarred gorilla captured in the wild, performed in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Toto (1931–1968)—Gargantua's would-be mate
John Daniel and John Daniel II, western gorillas that toured briefly with Ringling

As politicians

Macaco Tião, a chimpanzee, had the habit of throwing excrement at visitors (including several politicians) to the Rio de Janeiro Zoo. A satirical newspaper ran his candidature for Rio de Janeiro mayor in 1988, and he got 9.5% of the votes, just behind Marcello Alencar and César Maia.^[13]
Colossus the Gorilla was a main attraction at Benson's Wild Animal Farm in Hudson, New Hampshire, who attempted to have Colossus put on the ballot in the 1980 New Hampshire Republican Presidential primary. The zoo tried to argue that the U.S. Constitution does not specify that a native-born candidate has to be human.^[14]

Pets

Bubbles (b. 1983)—chimpanzee belonging to singer Michael Jackson from 1985 to 2005. Appeared in Jackson's "Liberia Girl" music video. In 2005, Jackson admitted that Bubbles had grown from the cute and cuddly 10 lb (4.5 kg) "baby" Jackson had treated as a human child, to a very large, very strong, pugnacious 180 lb (82 kg) adult male. Bubbles was initially moved to a private wildlife reserve in the late 1980s, and in 2004, he was relocated to the Center for Great Apes, in Wauchula, Florida.
Moe, a chimpanzee who lived with a California couple until he was seized by authorities.^[15]

References

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