Oliver (chimpanzee)
Oliver (* approx. 1958 ; † June 2, 2012 ) was a chimpanzee who became known for his human appearance and his upright gait. There has been speculation that Oliver might be a cross between a human and a chimpanzee, or the missing link between the two species.
Oliver stood out because of his human-like skull shape. He was bald, his ears were unusually pointed for a chimpanzee, and his mouth protruded only slightly. He lived in Blackwood with the trainer couple Janet and Frank Burger, who had bought him as a young animal from traders in the Congo region . Socially, he was only interested in people, not in other chimpanzees. He liked drinking coffee and watching TV. In 1976, he and his foster parents received great media interest, among other things, from appearing at relevant events around the world. A preliminary genetic analysis showed that it could have 47 chromosomes and would stand between humans and chimpanzees. Since 1996 he lived in the Primarily Primates animal sanctuary . Later research showed that Oliver had 48 chromosomes and was a genetically normal common chimpanzee .
proof
- ↑ a b Shreeve, James: Oliver's Travels, The Atlantic , October 2003 [1]
- ^ Primarily Primates Online