Hello, my name is
Tash

About Me

I didn’t have it easy the first 18 years of my life.  I was born at the Primate Foundation; a facility that bred chimpanzees for biomedical research, to parents Rosie and Kobi. I was sent to LEMSIP (The Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates) when I was 2, and then on to The Coulston Foundation when I was 4.  I was used in research studies and as a breeder, but never had children.  During one study, I was so distressed that I started to self-mutilate.  Thankfully, those days are a distant memory.

I am now confident and larger-than-life, both in stature and personality!  I am quite fashionable and frequently wear a scarf or boa. Other days I will carry a hat around tucked in my leg pocket (chimpanzees use the area between their leg and torso as a pocket while walking).  My hair-do is reflective of my personality—it’s almost like a lion’s mane, giving me a tough, robust appearance.  But I can also be as gentle as a kitten, and once showed extreme concern about a bandage on my caregiver’s finger.  I pointed at it daily, asking to inspect the injury until it healed to my satisfaction.  I love to eat—my food and everyone else’s!  I strongly encourage the other chimps to share with me.  I spend most of my time with my best friends Mika (whom I have known since I was 5) and Pamela, searching for treats spread around the island, or relaxing on our favorite platform.

Donate today to support Tash’s life filled with love and freedom.