ICYMI: Orphaned Baby Chimp Is Flourishing At Lowry Park Zoo

By Susan C. Schena (Patch Staff)

TAMPA, FL -- A 1-year-old baby chimpanzee, essentially orphaned by her mother at a Baltimore zoo in Maryland, is thriving with her new adopted mom and siblings at Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo.

Visitors to the chimp habitat in Primate World can see little “Keeva” holding on to mom, “Abby,” playing with “Twiggy” and “Jamie,” or chasing ducks that share the same space.

"Watching her today, you would never know the challenging start she experienced," officials wrote in the latest zoo blog post.

Keeva was born at The Maryland Zoo, but the animal care team noticed her mother, “Carole,” was not adapting to motherhood appropriately and the decision was made to remove and hand-rear Keeva, zoo folks said.

Keeva was flown to Tampa, where she received round-the-clock care and feedings. At about six months, she was fully introduced to her new Florida family.

"At just over a year old, Keeva has captured the hearts of her chimp troop, the animal care team and all the guests who come to see her," zoo officials wrote."We are proud of the efforts made by our animal care team to little Keeva in order to provide a healthy and promising life. We are thrilled she was able to find a home, and a happy ending, here with us at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo."

Read all the sweet details here in Tampa Lowry Park Zoo blog.

Also see: Good News: Adorable Manatee’s Release Goes Off Without A Hitch

Image courtesy of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo blo