Betty, the chimpanzee that had been at the Dublin Zoo for the longest and the oldest living chimp under human care, passed away last week at the age of 62. She was one of the zoo’s most cherished and well-known inmates.
A zoo blog article claims that Betty had age-related ailments that were impairing her quality of life, and the tough choice to end her life was made to spare her from suffering in the future.
Although it is heartbreaking to lose Betty, she enjoyed a lengthy life that exceeded the average lifespan of a chimpanzee in captivity. According to the zoo, she was also the oldest chimpanzee in human care at the time of her death.
Team leader Helen Clarke Bennett of Dublin Zoo, who has worked as a zookeeper since 1987 and has known Betty for many years, paid tribute to her.
In 1964, a West African chimpanzee named Betty made her way to Dublin. Bennett notes that Betty participated in archaic practices like “Chimp Tea Parties” and that the Dublin Zoo continued to operate in the “style of the early Victorian era zoos” throughout that period.
Betty saw major advancements in zoo standards throughout her decades-long confinement. For example, in the 1990s, the chimp habitat was transformed from a metal-barred concrete “pit” to an island with trees.
Bennett claimed to have known Betty since the zoo’s early years since Michael Clarke, Betty’s father, was looking after her at the time. The chimp was “always strong-minded,” according to him, and would not give up on her goals.
After Wendy moved in 1964, Betty’s best friend, Wendy, became an integral part of her life for the majority of it. One of the cutest pairs in the zoo was formed by the two monkeys.
“Wendy had a cheeky side, but Betty could hold her accountable!” Bennett penned the piece. “When Wendy was obstinately refusing to go outside while the habitat was being cleaned, Betty putting her arm around her to encourage her to go outside with the rest of the troop will always be one of my favorite pictures.”
Betty and Wendy celebrated their 50th birthdays together in 2012 at the zoo. The zoo workers believed that Betty, who was devastated by Wendy’s death in 2014, wouldn’t be far behind.
She even managed to live on for a further ten years, rising to the rank of dominating female chimpanzee and earning the title of longest-serving inhabitant of the zoo.
Bennett stated that Betty experienced reduced kidney function and chronic arthritis in her latter years, which affected her weight and mobility. She was also under continuous wellness management.
They had to make the tough but humane decision to end the beloved chimp’s life after all medicinal and surgical alternatives had been tried. Even though Betty is no longer with us, she will always be cherished as a unique original and a zoogoer’s favorite for many decades to come.
“Although I am really saddened to bid farewell to a friend I have known since I was a young child, I am sure that Betty’s euthanasia was the right choice, ensuring that she didn’t suffer needlessly and preserving her dignity to the very end. That gives me a great deal of comfort,” Bennett wrote.
“Everyone here at Dublin Zoo as well as the many generations of visitors who were fortunate enough to know her will miss Betty terribly; there will never be another like her.”
Peace be with you, Betty. You lived a very long life, and it’s obvious that your loved ones and caregivers cherished you.
Hurricane Milton live updates: ‘Potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm takes aim at Florida
Milton hurricane rapidly intensified on October 7th, with wind speeds reaching 257 km/h, making it a Category 5 hurricane — the highest level on the U.S. scale — just two days after forming in the Gulf of Mexico.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicts that Milton will make landfall on Florida’s west coast midweek as a high-intensity storm. The projected path shows that Hurricane Milton will strike the Tampa Bay area on October 9th and continue moving through Central Florida toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Although Milton is smaller than the previous superstorm Helene, it will pass through more densely populated areas, increasing the risk of storm surges and causing significant damage.
Southern Florida has already begun to feel the initial impacts of the storm, with flooding reported in Miami-Dade County and the Everglades. Flood warnings are expected to remain in effect in many areas until October 10th. Forecast models are concerned that if Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Tampa Bay, it could cause severe storm surges and potentially become the region’s most catastrophic natural disaster in history.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency in 51 counties, advising residents to stock up on enough food and water for a week and be prepared for evacuation. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for many healthcare facilities and high-risk areas. Public services and schools in several places, such as Pinellas County, have been temporarily closed from October 7th to October 9th in response to Hurricane Milton.
Hurricane and storm surge warnings have been issued for multiple areas along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Heavy rainfall of up to 37 cm is expected to impact the Florida Peninsula and the Florida Keys from October 8th to October 9th.
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