Choppers, the Western Chimpanzee who became a household name in the UK during the 1970s through her role as Grandmother Ada Lott in the PG Tips advertisements, has had her life story detailed in a new study led by scientists from National Museums Scotland (NMS). Initially rescued from poachers in Sierra Leone at just six weeks old, Choppers spent over 40 years in Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire, before her passing in 2016.

Utilising a scientific method known as osteobiographical analysis, researchers have uncovered significant aspects of Choppers’s life that were not previously understood. This technique, more often applied in archaeology to study ancient human remains like those of Richard III, offers a comprehensive look into her life, making this study the first of its kind concerning a zoo animal.

Dr David Cooper, a researcher at NMS and the lead author of the study, expressed that Choppers was cherished by audiences throughout the UK. He remarked that the innovative application of osteobiographical analysis has provided an unprecedented opportunity to narrate her life story. According to Dr Cooper, Choppers’s existence serves as a “testament to the many thousands of chimpanzees that were taken from the wild,” highlighting the evolving focus of zoos towards education, conservation, and animal welfare rather than pure entertainment.

Key findings from the study include evidence of traumatic injuries Choppers sustained during her capture, which affected her mobility and contributed to degenerative health issues in later life. Researchers employed various analytic techniques, including biogeochemical, pathological, and morphometric approaches, to analyse significant life events.

The study also noted that Choppers’s upper jaw had become “significantly elongated” compared to those of wild chimpanzees, a development attributed to her early diet of sugary soft fruits. Contrastingly, trends in modern zoo diets have shifted towards tougher, less sugary vegetation, with benefits for the health and behaviour of zoo primates.

Following her death, Twycross Zoo donated Choppers’s skeleton to the NMS, making it part of a vital natural science collection encompassing over 10 million specimens. This collection aids in understanding biodiversity loss and the impacts of human activities on animal populations.

Dr Andrew Kitchener, principal curator of vertebrate biology at NMS, highlighted the importance of natural science collections in addressing present-day environmental challenges. He stated that they provide evidence of human impacts, which is essential for future conservation efforts.

Phillipa Dobbs, veterinary services manager at Twycross Zoo, expressed satisfaction with the involvement in the study, underscoring the commitment to animal welfare that extends beyond an individual’s lifetime. Dobbs stated that such research not only contributes to scientific knowledge but also reflects the evolving role of modern zoos in animal care and conservation.

The findings of this study are detailed in the journal Scientific Reports and are part of the Animal Feeding project, supported by Wellcome. It coincides with the planned reopening of the largest exhibition of primate biology ever staged, “Monkeys: Our Primate Family,” scheduled to open on June 28 at NMS.

Source: Noah Wire Services