Hello, my name is
Jean

About Me

Jean was born on March 20, 1996, at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico, to her mother, Irma, and her father, Ted. At that time, the Coulston Foundation, a private research laboratory, operated a chimpanzee testing facility at Holloman. Unlike most of the chimpanzees born there, Jean was allowed to remain with her mother, for just over a year. However, on June 17, 1997, she was forcibly separated from her mother and relocated to the laboratory nursery. Only three months later, Jean and five other infant chimpanzees were sent across the country to Bioqual, a laboratory in Maryland.

Jean’s stay at Bioqual was brief. In March 1998, she was transferred to the NIH campus in Bethesda, where she was used in hepatitis research and subjected to multiple invasive liver biopsies.

When Jean was eight years old, Save the Chimps came to her rescue. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jean was shockingly pale and underweight, with a sparse coat of hair. Over time, however, she grew stronger and more confident, eventually becoming part of Tanya’s Family.

Today, Jean thrives on her spacious island home, complete with trees, hills, and climbing platforms. Known for her bold personality and high rank among her peers, Jean knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to assert herself. She has grown into a confident female who has all the males wrapped around her finger. Social and friendly, Jean has used her influence to become a high-ranking member of the group. She spends much of her time with her closest companions, Salina, Debbie, and Gabby, and can often be found at the center of a large grooming party on one of the structures. She also enjoys roaming the island with many other members of the group in tow, a testament to her strong presence and leadership within the group.

Jean is known for her unique habit of filling her mouth with water, lying down on her back on one of the benches, putting her hand over her mouth, and spitting the water out so that it bounces off her hand and spritzes her face. In addition to her social nature, she also has a keen interest in operant conditioning sessions. She enjoys the mental stimulation and often tries to join in on the other chimps’ operant conditioning time, eager to participate and engage.

Whether lounging on her island, leading a group on an adventure, or cleverly finding ways to be part of operant conditioning training, Jean’s resilience, charm, and intelligence shine through, making her a truly special and beloved member of Tanya’s Family.