Happy Birthday To San Francisco Zoo's Chimpanzees: Photos

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — San Francisco Zoo & Gardens was supposed to reopen to the public, but that's been postponed because of a surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.

But the zoo went ahead with a birthday party on Tuesday for their three senior chimpanzees.

Male Cobby is 62, while females Minnie and Maggie are both 52. The three chimpanzees have lived together at the zoo for 50 years.

The birthday party included a rainbow-themed presentation, which had a variety of treats such as carrots, tomatoes, loquats, yellow bell peppers, eggplants, rainbow chard and a cake made up of their chow covered in colorful yogurt, according to the zoo.

The chimpanzees also received gifts such as toys and blankets.

Cobby, Minnie and Maggie were joined last year by four additional chimpanzees when the Great Ape Passage opened, providing the chimpanzees with a spacious outdoor enclosure and indoor dayroom.

The zoo is taking extra precautionary measures when working with the chimpanzees, such as safe social distancing, due to the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to primates.

"For the past few months, the chimps, along with other zoo animals, have missed seeing guests, who visited daily," Zoo Director of Communications Nancy Chan said in an email.

— Patch editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this story