56-year-old chimp gives birth at US zoo

Officials at the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan say a 56-year-old chimpanzee who gave birth might be the oldest chimp in captivity to have a baby. Sunset Zoo officials announced on Monday that the chimp, Suzie, gave birth to a female on Aug. 18.

Zoo officials say the mother and baby are in good health. The zoo's curator, Mark Ryan, says the zoo hasn't found an older chimpanzee at any zoo who's given birth in the United States.



Suzie is the third oldest chimpanzee among zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.

Zoo director Scott Shoemaker said Suzie had been taken off birth control because of medical concerns and because zoo officials didn't think she would get pregnant at her age. The zoo is conducting a public competition to name the baby.

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