Brazzaville Zoo

Gregoire the chimpanzee was the record-holder of the oldest chimpanzee in the world. He was first exhibited in the zoo as early as 1944. His first documentation came when Jane Goodall visited the zoo in 1990, and saw that Gregoire was suffering from dire malnutrition and severe skin infections. After this encounter, Dr. Goodall intervened, assigning a special caretaker for Gregoire and implementing a diet program. In 1996, Gregoire enclosure received two new chimpanzees in order for him and the other primates to enjoy the company. Soon after, in 1997, the Congolese Civil War escalated, and due to the zoo's proximity to the Brazzaville International Airport, shelling and gunfire could be heard loudly. Gregoire was known to dive under his sheets as each shell fired. Staff hastily transported many of the zoo's primates to Pointe Noire, and later to a special preserve area in Tchimpounga. At his new home Gregoire found sanctuary, and lived the rest of his life with other chimpanzees and with human love and care. He died in 2008 of old age.^{[citation needed][1]}