faunachimps:

It is a bitter-sweet Father’s Day at Fauna. Billy-Jo would have been 40 years old today. This post is in honor of all the amazing male chimpanzees out there who would have, or could have been amazing fathers, but never had the chance or the freedom to live a normal life…

Billy Jo was born on June 17, 1968. He was a real looker and is responsible for luring most of the women here to Fauna with his charm, good looks and bad boy quality–but he was super soft and sensitive too.

 Billy’s life was tragic and he endured many hardships before coming to Fauna. He spent 15 years in entertainment where he had his teeth knocked out with a crowbar. His next 14 years in the lab were no better. He was knocked down over 289 times, 65 times by dart, and he bit off his index finger during an anxiety attack. When he arrived at Fauna Billy Jo found it in his enormous heart to open up and let the love we all had for him in, and so he had some years here where he was loved unconditionally. He was able to laugh, and relax or vent and be angry without consequence. He was a pleasure to serve.

Billy answered to many names, and William was one that suited him well as he truly was majestic and sophisticated.  He loved it when we used all his different names. He had more human friends than any of the other residents and was a great ambassador for the sanctuary. We are grateful to him for helping so many people come to understand the tragedy and sadness that he and his family of chimpanzees in captivity would face daily. Billy Jo will never be forgotten.

 Read Billy Jo’s story and find out more about how to help the chimps.

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Happy Fathers Day to all great apes, human and others.