In 1997, Fauna welcomed 15 chimpanzees from the Laboratory for Experimental  Medicine and Surgery in Primates; in 2002, one from the St-Felicien Zoo; and in 2007, three from the Quebec City Zoo who were also used in research as children.  Sadly, six of our residents have passed (see obituaries). Today, Fauna is home to 13 chimpanzees. In addition to the other animals we care for, the Fauna chimpanzees have become a major focus of our work. 

The Fauna chimpanzees have brought local, national and world attention. People are fascinated by them -- eagerly interested in knowing about them. They have won the hearts and minds of tens of thousands of people and are ambassadors for thousands of chimpanzees still held in labs and zoos throughout the world.

When we are asked, “what are they like?”…it is an impossible question to answer since they are as different from one another as any two humans are from each other. Some are extremely intelligent – geniuses really. Some have a delightful sense of humor. Others are rather moody. Some very compassionate, others less.  While one might be calm, another is rather excitable. Some logical. Others completely visceral. And, the same chimp, just like us, can be very different on different days as he or she expresses the full complexity of his/her personality. 

All wonderful in their own right, it is the richness of their personalities and intelligence as well as their sheer physical strength that makes them both the most demanding and the most delightful to know.  All of us at Fauna feel it is an honor to know them and a privilege to serve them.

Visitors to our website have an opportunity to meet and learn about the Fauna chimpanzees. We want you too to have the privilege of getting to know some amazing and wonderful chimpanzee people who now call Fauna home.