Meet our chimpanzees!

Chimpanzees are incredible animals and our zoo’s troop is a firm visitor favourite. We’d love to introduce you to some of their unique characters and share a little about their family tree, social dynamics and personalities.

Intelligent and emotionally expressive, chimpanzees have one of the most intricate social structures in the animal kingdom. Much like humans - who share around 98% of their DNA - they live in tight-knit communities.

Within a troop, you’ll find playful youngsters, nurturing mothers, respected elders, and dominant males who help maintain order. These complex relationships are built on communication and cooperation, offering a fascinating glimpse into the social lives of our closest living relatives.

You can visit our troop at the Budongo Trail. This award-winning habitat is an incredible place to observe chimpanzees up close. It’s also part of a wider conservation story. The Budongo Trail is directly connected to the Budongo Conservation Field Station in Uganda, where dedicated experts work to protect wild chimpanzees, conserve their rainforest habitat and support local communities.

Liberius

Liberius is the largest chimp in our troop and the current dominant male. He’s quite a calm male and will often sit back and watch if others argue but will step in if he needs to tell anyone off.  

Dominance displays help establish hierarchy within the troop, reducing the need for constant conflict and keeping social order intact. Liberius’ displays often include a large clap of his hands and a stomping dance along the highest beams.

Lucy

Lucy is the oldest female in the group and is low ranking. She is mother to Liberius, although they have not remained close into adulthood. She was close friends with Qafzeh’s mother, Emma, so her and Qafzeh have a close bond.  

Qafzeh

Qafzeh is the previous dominant male of the troop. Despite losing his position, he still holds a high rank and keeps good relationships with the other high-ranking males.  

He looks quite greedy at feeding times when he collects a large amount of food. But watch him closely and you’ll see him sharing his stash with lower ranking females.

Kilimi

Kilimi is a high-ranking female. She’s very clever, often using sticks as a tool to retrieve food! She also tries to outwit keepers when they are closing off areas to clean.  

Paul

Paul is one the mid-ranking males and has a good relationship with the dominant males. He’s not afraid to stand up for himself or get involved with community disputes.  

Louis

Louis is one of our oldest chimps and was once a dominant male. Although he’s slowing down in his old age, he still enjoys playing with the youngsters and is a respected member of the community.  

Frek

Frek is a lower ranking male with a sweet temperament who gets on with everyone in the troop. He prefers to stay out of disputes and sticks to making love rather than war.  

He also really dislikes getting his feet wet and can be seen pulling a face of disgust when getting food from outside when it’s raining.  

Velu

Velu was born in 2014 and is the son of Heleen. He’s very clever and enjoys spending a lot of time playing but can be very mischievous.  

He’ll sometimes tease other group members by throwing food like carrots at them, then running away before they can catch him to tell them off - especially the older and slower members of the troop.  

Edith

Edith is a low-ranking female and daughter to Eva. She loves spending time playing with the youngsters of the group and can often be seen rolling in the grass outside enjoying the sunshine.  

Masindi

Masindi was born to Heleen in February 2020 and is currently the youngest member of the troop.  

She has a lot of energy for playing and has a good relationship with everyone in the troop, as they all enjoy playing with her. 

Heleen

Heleen is Velu and Masindi’s mother. She is a good mum and sometimes like to let the youngsters explore on their own with other adults in the group.  

Lianne

Lianne is the smallest adult member of the group, but she can stand up for herself when needed. Although she likes her alone time, she has a good relationship with the high-ranking males in the group.  

Sophie

Sophie is quite low ranking, but she is very loyal to her friends. She has taken on the “aunt” role with Masindi and Velu and can often be seen playing with them and carrying Masindi.  

Each member of our chimpanzee troop has their own story, and there’s so much more to discover when you see them in action. Whether you’re watching playful Masindi, clever Kilimi or commanding Liberius, a visit to the Budongo Trail is a chance to witness the magic of chimpanzee life up close.

Book your tickets today and come meet the troop!