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ASHEBORO, N.C. — Terry, the North Carolina Zoo’s oldest chimpanzee, has passed away, the zoo announced Thursday. She was 47.

Terry (Credit: NC Zoo)
Terry (Credit: NC Zoo)

Terry passed away peacefully in her sleep after a period of declining health, the zoo said. Forty-seven is considered elderly among the species.

Terry was one of the original chimps when the exhibit opened, the zoo said. She came to the North Carolina Zoo in 1980.

“For 36 years Terry has played an integral role in the North Carolina Zoo’s chimp troops, whether in the role of a high ranking female whose support was important for the males, friend to Ham, the ‘space chimp,’ or surrogate mother to Nori, an infant who needed to be hand-raised. Many remember that when Nori was introduced to the adults in the troop, it was Terry who stepped in to take on the maternal role. This was special for both Nori and Terry as Terry had never had any offspring of her own,” Curator of Mammals Jennifer Ireland said.

A necropsy (an animal autopsy) is being performed, as with all animal deaths at the zoo.

Memorials for Terry can be sent in care of: NC Zoo Society, 4403 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205 or by calling (336) 879-7250.