Hello, my name is
Lisa Marie

About Me

I am a petite and delicate chimp. I was taken from my mother at a young age to work in entertainment in Chicago. I was eight years old when Save the Chimps took me into their care and I went on an 18-hour trip to Florida. I was rambunctious on the long ride to Florida, throwing my toys and jumping around my cage. Once the sun went down, I settled into a nest of blankets and slept for the rest of the journey.

Once I arrived there were a lot of people to greet me, they welcomed me and told me how beautiful I am. I was very brave on my first day in Florida. I was not afraid of the big chimps in the play yards next to mine. I quickly explored my play yard, climbed to the top, and took a nap in the sun. It felt wonderful.

After my health check-ups, I moved to a building they call “Kiley’s Building”. There are 19 chimpanzees in that building and at first, I was scared of the loud noise and commotion. Soon, they settled down and I began interacting with them through the safety of the mesh. It was time for me to meet Kiley. They opened the doors between us and I discovered that she is sweet and friendly just like me. Kiley and I played, laughed, and groomed. Next, I met Jaybee and Ariel. We immediately built strong bonds of friendship. I’m happy living with other chimpanzees and love spending my days playing and grooming with a large chimpanzee family.

I’m known for my lively, spirited, and playful personality. Having been raised around humans, I’m naturally drawn to enrichment items like tutus, crayons, coloring books, and stickers. I love exploring my family’s 3-acre island, often hanging out at the saloon—a platform styled like a western saloon—or perched in the tall oak trees, where I can take in the beautiful view of the sanctuary. As I grow older, I’m stepping into my role within the family and no longer being treated as the baby of the group. I spend a lot of time with my close friends, Jaybee and Ariel, enjoying our special bond.