Discover Five of the Oldest Chimpanzees on Record

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) are considered the closest living relatives to humans. Although there are significant differences, both chimpanzees and humans belong to the same family, Hominidae. The human lifespan is moderately longer, with the average human life expectancy approaching 80 years. Chimpanzees typically live between 40 and 50 years in the wild. In captivity, they can live longer, reaching 60 to 70 years of age. Continue reading to discover some of the oldest chimps on record.

The World’s Oldest Chimpanzee

The world’s oldest chimpanzee on record was Little Mama, who held this distinction at the time of her death.

Little Mama performed as a travelling ice skater and spent her later years at Lion Country Safari, a drive-through safari in Florida. The park has a unique chimpanzee exhibit that includes islands between which the chimpanzees can move, mimicking a wild habitat.

Little Mama died on November 14, 2017 from kidney failure. She was believed to have been born in Africa circa 1938, which would have made her 79 at the time of her death.

Old Chimps of Note

João

João, believed to be the world’s oldest living chimpanzee, was born in Mozambique between 1943 and 1948. He spent his early life as a circus performer. João and a female companion were later moved to a zoo in Mozambique, where his companion passed away. Soon after, war broke out, leading to João’s isolation. During this time, he learned to communicate with a troop of yellow baboons in a neighboring enclosure at the zoo. Kind locals fed and cared for Joao during his long stay at the zoo.

Since 2006, João has lived at Chimp Eden (Jane Goodall Institute South Africa) in Mpumalanga, South Africa. He is believed to be in his 80s and continues to amaze with his playful nature and influence within his group. Despite his age, João is still active and engages with the younger chimps, even taking on a surrogate parental role

J. Fred Muggs

J. Fred Muggs is one of television’s most iconic animal celebrities. J.Fred Muggs was born on March 14, 1952, in Cameroon and brought to New York before his first birthday. Purchased by former NBC pages Bud Mennella and Leroy Waldron, he made his television debut on February 3, 1953, as the live‑on‑air chimp mascot of NBC’s Today show, dressed in diapers and seated beside host Dave Garroway.

His piano‑playing, Popeye impressions, and reading newspapers, along with a wardrobe of 450 outfits, reportedly earned the network over $100 million in advertising. While Muggs was adored by children and adults alike, his presence caused tension behind the scenes. Garroway was said to grow jealous of Muggs and allegedly laced Muggs’ orange juice with Benzedrine.

Muggs was known for temper tantrums and causing chaos on set, culminating in his departure from Today in 1957.

After leaving the show, Muggs starred in his own short-lived series and toured the world promoting NBC. Muggs performed at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, until his retirement in the mid‑1970s. J. Fred Muggs passed away on June 21, 2025, at the age of 73.

Susie

Susie was born around 1954 and arrived at the Sunset Zoo in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1974, where she became the oldest known chimpanzee under human care. As the matriarch of her troop, she has outlived the typical 40‑year lifespan of chimpanzees in the wild, most recently celebrating her 71st birthday in June 2025.

Susie receives specialized care, including joint support for arthritis, cataract monitoring, nutritional supplements like Ensure, and regular veterinary evaluations from Kansas State University faculty.

Cheetah

Cheetah lived out his later life at Florida’s Suncoast Primate Sanctuary. The sanctuary claimed that Cheetah was the star of the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan films. Many have challenged the claim that he was the original film Cheetah. Due to a lack of documentation and reports of the original Cheetah’s death, this claim is considered unlikely.

At the sanctuary, Cheetah is remembered as a compassionate and affectionate presence who loved finger‑painting, watching football, and listening to music. However, he was also known for occasional temper and throwing feces. He reportedly died in December 2011 at the age of about 80 from kidney failure, a lifespan far exceeding that of typical chimpanzees.