On Thursday April 9th, Monkey World will be celebrating the 30th birthday of Trudy the chimpanzee that was rescued from the Chipperfield circus family in 1998. Trudy made headline news after her circus owner was filmed beating, kicking, and swearing at the 2-year-old baby chimpanzee at a private farm in Hampshire.
On arrival at Monkey World the frightened and traumatised youngster received specialist care to encourage and transition her from a life of isolation in the circus trainer’s barn to life with a large, adopted family of 17 others at the Dorset rescue centre.
Director of Monkey World, Dr Alison Cronin, said “It is hard to believe that we are celebrating Trudy’s 30th birthday. All those years ago we confiscated a baby chimpanzee that had been abused and neglected from the time of her birth when she was taken away from her natural family. Mary Chipperfield was prosecuted and found guilty on 12 counts of cruelty in a case that I will never forget. Trudy had an army of supporters demanding justice on her behalf and defending her right to remain with her adopted family. For Trudy the other chimpanzees in her adopted family were key to her rehabilitation, giving her the love, care, and support that any child requires.”
Trudy’s army included high profile conservationists and primate experts Sir David Attenborough and the late Dr Jane Goodall.
On Thursday 9th April Trudy, her family, and the park will have a day of celebrations with special treats which will be shared on social media along with old film footage and media, interviews, and live streams.
