Resident since 2011
Sponsorship from £40 / year
Western Chimpanzee
- Six residents
- Three from circuses or zoos
- One from West Africa
Meet the chimps
Bili, Fergus, Nakima, Ronnie, Toto and Twmi. Six chimpanzees, six different routes to a quiet life in the Brecon Beacons.
01Six residents
The individuals
Click any card to read the chimp's full story, key dates, and what they like.
Resident since 1999
Sponsorship from £40 / year
Chimpanzee
Fergus
Meet Fergus
Resident since 2006
Sponsorship from £40 / year
Chimpanzee
Nakima
Meet Nakima
Resident since 2007
Sponsorship from £40 / year
Chimpanzee
Ronnie
Meet Ronnie
Resident since 2016
Sponsorship from £40 / year
Chimpanzee
Toto
Meet Toto
Resident since 1999
Sponsorship from £40 / year
Chimpanzee
Twmi
Meet TwmiA quiet moment
Years apart, together
Nakima, in her purple sweater, with Ronnie. Two chimps from very different starts who now share a group.
In memory
The companions who came before
Many of the chimps who arrive here come with companions, or meet new ones once they're here. Some of them are no longer with us. Their names matter.
- Chico, 1991, mother of Fergus, Twmi and Suzi. Drowned in the moat at Penscynor aged 20.
- Topsy, 2005, Toto's companion of nearly 40 years at Drayton Manor.
- Jeremy, February 2009, father of Fergus, Twmi and Suzi.
- Bimbo, 10 February 2012, Bili's companion in the early months. Heart.
- Tubman, January 2019, lived alongside Toto and Bili.
- Jason, 2020, Toto's companion. Inoperable lymphoma.
- Uschi, Kaspar's mate. Lymphoma.
- Freddie, paired with Nakima after losing his own companion Peter.
- Suzi, Vicki, Neusi, Winnie, Penscynor companions over the years.
Did you know
How chimps live at WAMS
The chimps live in adjoining enclosures with shared spaces, indoor and outdoor access, and routine enrichment from the keepers.
Wales Ape & Monkey Sanctuary is a true sanctuary, not a zoo. We do not breed our chimps, we never import from the wild, and we never supply animals to other organisations. Chimps that arrive here arrive for life.
On the chimp Meet & Greet, you accompany the head keeper to the enclosures, give a scatter mix of dried fruit and nuts through the mesh, and spend 30 minutes in their company. The mesh stays between you and the chimps at all times.
