Zoo Knoxville celebrates birth of endangered chimpanzee
April 28, 2022

Zoo Knoxville's newest chimpanzee, Stevie. Zoo Knoxville

KNOXVILLE -- It’s a girl! Zoo Knoxville is celebrating the birth of an endangered chimpanzee. Binti, a 37-year-old chimpanzee, gave birth on Friday, April 22, to a healthy female. The newborn has been named “Stevie” to honor the late Dr. Steve Ross, a beloved primatologist who dedicated his career to the care and study of chimpanzees and was a tireless advocate for their welfare.

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Binti experienced some complications with the birth and needed medical intervention to address a retained placenta. Thanks to the quick action of her caretakers and the veterinary team from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM), Binti is recovering well. While she is getting her strength back, the infant is being cared for round-the-clock by the Great Apes team and is healthy and thriving. Binti is being slowly introduced to her baby as her health improves with the goal of transitioning Stevie back to her mother’s care.

“We have been extremely touched by the outpouring of care and support for Binti, Stevie, and our entire team,” said Lisa New, President and CEO of Zoo Knoxville. “We are committed to giving Stevie the best start in life and ensuring she continues to thrive. It is an important contribution to the survival of chimpanzees in our care and the reason that drives everything we do. Saving animals is our mission.”

Chimpanzees are an Endangered species, and being driven to extinction by habitat loss, disease, and their biggest threat, illegal poaching. Zoo Knoxville is working in partnership with 32 other zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to ensure a healthy population remains as hope for the future.

The new infant is not currently on public view while being cared for in the nursery, but the Zoo will be updating her progress frequently on their social media channels @zooknoxville.

Zoo Knoxville is a nonprofit entity situated on 53 wooded acres just east of downtown Knoxville. Zoo Knoxville features exhibits of wild animals in natural habitats and is world renowned for its efforts in conservation and species survival. Zoo Knoxville is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is committed to the highest standards in animal care and well-being, ethics, conservation, and education. Knoxville’s largest attraction, the zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Currently, the zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Admission and ticket sales stop one-hour before the zoo closes. For more information visit zooknoxville.org.