Spitter, oldest chimpanzee in southern hemisphere, dies at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo

The beloved matriarch of Taronga Zoo’s chimpanzee community – who was the oldest chimp in the southern hemisphere – has died at age 61.

The oldest chimpanzee in the southern hemisphere has died at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.

A Taronga Zoo spokesperson confirmed Spitter, the matriarch of the chimp community, was humanely euthanised after suffering an acute medical issue.

Spitter was one of the first chimpanzees born at the zoo and the first to be mother-reared.

The matriarch of the zoo’s chimp community, was euthanised after suffering an acute medical issue.

She was born on July 1, 1960, to a chimpanzee called Biddy and over the next 40 years became a grandmother and great-grandmother to many other chimps in the zoo.

Last year, she turned 61.

“Up until recently, Spitter was still strong of mind and body and remained an integral member of our chimpanzee community, but sadly after suffering an acute medical issue, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanise her,” a Taronga Zoo spokesperson wrote on the zoo’s Facebook page.

Spitter was a grandmother and great-grandmother to many of the chimpanzees in Taronga Zoo.

“Spitter bore witness to some significant changes over the years, changes in her community, its structures, changes to where she has lived as well as the staff who have cared for her.

“Spitter lived a full life and witnessed an array of changes in her 61 years on this earth, reaching an age only a few chimpanzees have reached anywhere in the world.”