Hello, my name is
Chelsea

About Me

I was born on July 6, 1998, at the Coulston Foundation in New Mexico. Sadly, I was taken from my mother at birth. I was still a child when Save the Chimps rescued me in 2002, with other 265 Coulston Foundation chimpanzees.

I’m known to be very intelligent and outgoing. One of my favorite activities is painting. I’m creative and enjoy painting beyond the canvas – floors and walls are just as fun to paint on! As a bit of a silly lady, I love being the center of attention. I’m always up for a snack and can be quite persuasive, especially with the boys in my group when I’m on the hunt for some extra treats. My playful mood is almost a constant, and I’ve been known to playfully stick my tongue out at my caregivers before flashing a smile.

Despite my goofy demeanor, I am very sharp and have always excelled in our operant conditioning program. My huge personality and charisma make me a standout in Seve’s group, marking me as a strong individual who knows what I want and isn’t shy about asking for it.

I’m quite the influential figure in my group, always eager to engage in play with my caregivers and indulge in enrichment activities. When caregivers haven’t seen me for a while, I can’t hide my excitement and often press my belly against the mesh in greeting. With enrichment tools like Kongs and PVC tubes, I frequently end up with at least three, which is why I’m part of an exercise training program to help keep me in shape from all the extra food I manage to scrounge from the other chimps!

I’m a true foodie; when I ask nicely, my pals Kioki and Hunter often hand over all their food, too. The care staff have extra food on hand to replace theirs. I prefer spending my time in the building or primadome, though you might occasionally spot me basking or foraging on the patio. My best friend Kira and I rule Seve’s building, and I also love playing chase with my caregivers.

Sometimes, you’ll see me using tickle sticks to try and pull scraps of food that have dropped in the hallway into the rooms. I’ve even been seen using a very long stick that I’ve brought inside to poke at the TV when a movie about chimps was playing! This clever use of tools shows how smart I really am.