Colchester Zoological Society (CZS) welcomes endangered chimpanzee arrival

Jessie, aged 26 years old, arrived from Welsh Mountain Zoo following an EEP (EAZA Ex Situ Programme) breeding recommendation, with the hope that she will form a bond with resident male, Napoleon, who recently became a father to baby Keira, on 17th January 2026.

To ensure a calm and positive introduction to the troop, Jessie is currently in a separate area within Chimpanzee Lookout to give her time to settle into her new home and become familiar with the group from a distance. She will then be gradually mixed with the group when the Animal Care Team feel they are comfortable to do so.

Her arrival is not just a new and exciting chapter for the Zoo, it is also part of a much bigger, coordinated conservation effort across Europe to help protect the future of this species. Breeding programmes in zoos are managed collaboratively at a European, or sometimes global, level. EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) Ex situ Programmes or EEPs (previously known as European Endangered Species Programmes) are coordinated breeding programmes for over 500 animal species, designed to manage and conserve endangered species in European zoos. They are a collaboration between zoos, conservation organisations, and governmental bodies to ensure the long-term survival of threatened species with the goal of maintaining healthy and genetically diverse populations.

Chimpanzees are currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and face a number of threats out in the wild, including habitat loss from deforestation as well as being hunted for bushmeat. Therefore, EEP breeding programmes are more important now than ever. Every individual, like Jessie, plays a crucial role in the fight against extinction.

We know that this is a very exciting time and visitors will be keen to see Jessie, but CZS do kindly ask that all visitors remain quiet when visiting Chimpanzee Lookout to allow their new arrival time to settle. CZS will be providing updates on the troop via their website and social media channels as and when they have them.