Booie came to the Wildlife Waystation in October 1995, when he retired from a medical research facility. He arrived along with eight other chimps, all of whom have made contributions to the advancements of medical science.

Like all chimpanzees, Booie has his own, unique personality traits. He is known for his great sense of humor and is very talkative. Booie has actually learned to communicate using American Sign Language (the language of the hearing impaired). Booie finds that his language skills come in handy in making treat and drink requests and signaling when he wants to play chase or tickle. His skills made him a star interviewee on ABC TV’s “20-20” program, where his story caught the attention of a national audience.

Booie and his eight chimp colleagues will be among the first residents of a new “retirement village” being planned at the Wildlife Waystation.

Booie the Chimpanzee is able to speak with his hands.

The chimpanzee, also known by the scientific name Pan troglodyte, is a member of the Hominidae family. Sharing over 98% of humans’ DNA, they are considered to be the species most closely related to us, both genetically and cognitively. The physical strength of an adult chimpanzee far surpasses that of humans.

Chimpanzees live in complex, varied social groups called troops and communicate through a wide range of vocalizations and physical gestures. They show great intelligence in problem-solving and the use of simple tools.

When mature, chimpanzees usually weight between 100 and 120 pounds; their life span can exceed 50 years. They are omnivorous and feed on fruits, nuts, leaves, bark, eggs and occasionally meat.