In loving memory of
Spud

About Me

In Loving Memory

1982-2025

Spud was an endearing presence in Rufus’s family, with a knack for making friends. His tough-guy exterior and powerful, energetic displays quickly melted into a gentleness that earned him the affection and adoration of chimps and caregivers alike.

“Spud was the goofiest chimp, and the first to greet us every morning,” says care staffer Melody Esquivel. “He was the first chimp on his island that most people got to know, as he always grabbed your attention to play chase or demand the tickle stick.”

“Spud had a particular love for his female caregivers,” adds staffer Jennifer Paciello. “He liked to follow us around until we sat with him so he could stare into our eyes. He also loved to paint and would get it all over himself. Spud will be dearly missed by all who knew him.”

Spud appears to have passed quickly and peacefully as a result of long-standing heart disease, for which he had been on medication for many years. Remarkably, eight years ago, his heart stopped, and he was resuscitated by our veterinary team—a testament to his resilience. You’d never have guessed it, given how active and playful he remained.

After being born in a laboratory and enduring two traumatic decades as a test subject, we are grateful Spud was finally able to enjoy many years of peace, sunshine, and deep friendships on his island home.

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I was born on either January 2 or August 2, 1982, at the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates (LEMSIP), a lab in New York State that closed in 1997. Both birth dates are listed in my record, so I can’t be certain which is correct. At LEMSIP, I was isolated for years in a 5’ x 5’ x 7’ cage. Although Save the Chimps does not know what sorts of experiments I was used in at LEMSIP, they do know that my liver was biopsied at least 46 times. In 1997, LEMSIP closed and I was shipped to The Coulston Foundation, a laboratory in New Mexico. While at Coulston, I was used in an extremely invasive and painful experiment, known as “Spinal Dynamics.” A healthy cervical disc was removed from my spine, and replaced with a prosthetic disc.

In 2002, The Coulston Foundation went bankrupt, and Save the Chimps stepped in to rescue me and 265 other chimpanzees. I joined Rufus’s Group, the largest chimpanzee family at Save the Chimps. I was released with my new friends onto a spacious, sunny island home at Save the Chimps’ sanctuary in Florida. I am known for my energy and power—and I love to make a lot of noise! But like most tough guys, I have a soft side, and after a vigorous display of strength, I will sit down and gaze lovingly into your eyes.