Calamity Jane, better known as CJ ~ arrived at Chimps Inc. on August 17, 2012. As a baby CJ was kept as a pet along with a younger chimp named Buddy by two animal trainers living in Las Vegas.
Born on May 2, 1999, at a breeding facility in Texas, CJ was purchased for $60,000. Dressed up in toddler outfits and raised like human children, the two young chimps posed with visitors each weekend at a local indoor swap meet where people could pay to pose and play with them.
CJ and Buddy made national headlines in August 2012 when they escaped their backyard enclosure in Las Vegas. Fortunately, CJ was returned to her enclosure unharmed. However, Buddy was not so lucky. He was shot and killed by local authorities. Then living alone in the Las Vegas neighborhood, CJ escaped a second time which prompted the media to dub her 'The Las Vegas Escape Artist'.
The current owners of CJ agreed after the first escape that she needed to move to an accredited sanctuary. The plans for her move to Bend were already in place prior to her second escape.
After the second escape, it became apparent the risk involved in keeping a captive chimpanzee in a neighborhood backyard was too great. It was then that local animal control authorities took over and an immediate placement to Chimps Inc. was implemented.
Though her road trip to Chimps Inc. was a lengthy one, CJ arrived at her new home with excitement in her eyes. For the first time she lives in a chimpanzee family, she eats what a chimpanzee should eat, plays like a chimpanzee and is building lasting relationships with others in her group. These days CJ is often seen lounging in one of the aerial tunnels, under the canopy of massive trees, grooming one of her new family members and enjoying life as a chimpanzee.
Born on May 2, 1999, at a breeding facility in Texas, CJ was purchased for $60,000. Dressed up in toddler outfits and raised like human children, the two young chimps posed with visitors each weekend at a local indoor swap meet where people could pay to pose and play with them.
CJ and Buddy made national headlines in August 2012 when they escaped their backyard enclosure in Las Vegas. Fortunately, CJ was returned to her enclosure unharmed. However, Buddy was not so lucky. He was shot and killed by local authorities. Then living alone in the Las Vegas neighborhood, CJ escaped a second time which prompted the media to dub her 'The Las Vegas Escape Artist'.
The current owners of CJ agreed after the first escape that she needed to move to an accredited sanctuary. The plans for her move to Bend were already in place prior to her second escape.
After the second escape, it became apparent the risk involved in keeping a captive chimpanzee in a neighborhood backyard was too great. It was then that local animal control authorities took over and an immediate placement to Chimps Inc. was implemented.
Though her road trip to Chimps Inc. was a lengthy one, CJ arrived at her new home with excitement in her eyes. For the first time she lives in a chimpanzee family, she eats what a chimpanzee should eat, plays like a chimpanzee and is building lasting relationships with others in her group. These days CJ is often seen lounging in one of the aerial tunnels, under the canopy of massive trees, grooming one of her new family members and enjoying life as a chimpanzee.
