Sheila

Sheila is our oldest chimpanzee, estimated to be born on January 7, 1948.

Sheila has been living at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary for over 20 years. She was originally a pet, owned by an elderly woman, and was housed in a very small cage, no bigger than a refrigerator box. She had become so accustomed to the small house that it had to be built into her enclosure at the sanctuary when she first moved in here. Sheila now feels safe out of the tiny box, and it has been removed from her enclosure. When her owner felt it was time to give Sheila up she first tried to turn her over to a zoo, but Sheila could not get accustomed to all of the new sights, smells, other animals, and most of all the insecurity of big open spaces. Having failed, Sheila was brought to the Sanctuary where she bonded very quickly with the owner, Mae Noell. Before Mae passed away, she used to walk hand in hand with Sheila regularly around the sanctuary. If you visited the "Chimp Farm" back in the 70's or 80's you might have experienced this. We have a very unique history here and appreciate where we have come from but acknowledge that changes need to be made. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our animals. 

Today, Sheila is quite a character. She has a lot of the same mannerisms as an elderly woman. She is a real ham, especially in front of a camera. She loves to have her picture taken, and will even pose - giving kisses and pursing her lips. Sheila enjoys making what we call "monkey chow soup. Waiting until she thinks she is alone, she will fill cups that she saves with water and then take her monkey chow left over from lunch and make a soupy mixture.

Sheila's favorite food items include romaine lettuce, mango, eggplant, mushrooms, and potatoes. She most enjoys her one-on-one time with her caregivers.