View source for List of individual apes

{{short description|List of notable non-human apes}}
{{Redirect|List of apes|a list of ape species|list of hominoids}}
[[File:Napoleon and Sally.jpg|thumb|''Napoleon and Sally'', 1916 film]]
This is a list of non-[[human]] [[ape]]s of encyclopedic interest. It includes individual [[chimpanzee]]s, [[gorilla]]s, [[orangutan]]s, [[bonobo]]s, and [[gibbon]]s that are in some way famous or notable.

==Actors==
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* [[J. Fred Muggs]] (a chimpanzee born 1952) was a "co-host" with [[Dave Garroway]] on [[NBC]]'s [[Today (NBC program)|''Today Show'']] in the 1950s.
*[[Jiggs (chimpanzee)|Jiggs]], a chimpanzee, was the first [[Cheeta]] in the [[Tarzan]] films in the 1930s.
* [[Jimmy the Chimp|Jimmy]], a chimpanzee, appeared in the film ''Dark Venture''
* [[Joe Martin (orangutan)|Joe Martin]], an orangutan, appeared in several silent-era American films
* [[Pankun]] (パン君, born October 1, 2001), a chimpanzee, was featured in Japanese TV shows {{Transliteration|ja|Tensai! Shimura Dobutsu-en}} (''Genius! Shimura Zoo'') and the TBS program {{Transliteration|ja|Dobutsu Kiso Tengai!}} (''Unbelievable Animals!'') with bulldog James, (active 2005–2012).
* [[Peter (chimpanzee)|Peter]] (active 1907–1910)—a chimpanzee vaudeville performer who was studied by [[Lightner Witmer]]
* [[Sam (orangutan)|Sam]] (1989–2010), an orangutan, played Dunston in the 1995 movie comedy ''[[Dunston Checks In]]''; he was trained by Larry Madrid.<ref>{{IMDb name|2262040|Sam (XVII) (1989–2010)}}</ref>
* Strawberry-an orangutan, appeared as "Blanche", a pet ape left orphaned after the sudden death of her owner, temporarily cared by [[Mr. Edwards]], ([[Victor French]]), in [[Little House on the Prairie (TV series)|"Little House on the Prarie".]] Season 9:Ep 20, "For The Love of Blanche".
* Tonka, the chimpanzee subject of the HBO documentary series (2024) ''[[Chimp Crazy]]''. Tonka appeared in films [[George of the Jungle (film)|''Buddy,'' ''George of the Jungle'']], and ''[[Babe: Pig in the City]]''. As of 2024, Tonka is living at Florida sanctuary, [[Save the Chimps]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Tonka |url=https://savethechimps.org/chimps/tonka/ |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=Save the Chimps}}</ref> 
* [[Travis (chimpanzee)|Travis]], a chimpanzee, gained fame through parts he had in commercials ([[Old Navy]] and [[Coca-Cola]]) in the 2000s, but was shot by police following a [[Charla Nash|brutal attack on a 55-year-old woman]] in Stamford, Connecticut.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.wfsb.com/news/18744089/detail.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090221231414/http://www.wfsb.com/news/18744089/detail.html | archive-date=2009-02-21| date = 2009-02-21 | title = Woman in surgery 7 hours after chimp attack}}</ref>
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== Artists ==
* [[Congo (chimpanzee)|Congo]] (1954–1964)—chimpanzee, abstract impressionist of the late 1950s
* [[Koko (gorilla)|Koko]] (1971–2018)—gorilla, widely believed to be able to communicate with humans through [[sign language]]
* [[Michael (gorilla)|Michael]] (1973–2000)—silverback gorilla, impressionist painter, was taught [[American sign language]] with Koko
* [[Pierre Brassau|Peter, ''alias'' Pierre Brassau]], a chimpanzee, was the subject of a famous hoax through which the chimpanzee's paintings were presented as the ''[[avant-garde]]'' works of unknown French (human) artist "Pierre Brassau".

== Science and exploration ==
[[File:Mercury-Atlas 5 Enos with handler (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Enos (chimpanzee)|Enos]], the only chimpanzee and third primate to orbit the Earth, flew on NASA's [[Mercury-Atlas 5]] [[Project Mercury]] space mission on November 29, 1961.]]
* [[Abang (orangutan)|Abang]] (born 1966)—orangutan, taught to use and make a stone tool (cutting flake)
* [[Ai (chimpanzee)|Ai]] (born 1976)—chimpanzee, studied by scientists at [[Primate Research Institute]], [[Kyoto University]]
* [[Ayumu (chimpanzee)|Ayumu]] (born 2000)—chimpanzee, studied by scientists at [[Primate Research Institute]], [[Kyoto University]]
* [[Bonnie (orangutan)|Bonnie]]—orangutan, began whistling (mimicking an animal caretaker), which is changing ideas about primate sound repertoires
* [[Chantek]] (1977–2017)—orangutan, involved with language research and ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador
* [[Enos (chimpanzee)|Enos]] (died 1962)—chimpanzee, 1961 [[NASA]] [[Project Mercury]] orbiter, the only chimpanzee and the third primate to orbit the [[Earth]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 6, 1962 |title=Chimpanzee Who Orbited In '61 Dies of Dysentery |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1962/11/06/306462512.html?pageNumber=37 |access-date=August 28, 2024 |work=The New York Times |pages=37}}</ref> 
* [[Flo (chimpanzee)|Flo]] (died 1972)—chimpanzee, key member of the [[Kasakela Chimpanzee Community]] studied by [[Jane Goodall]]; received an obituary in the ''[[Sunday Times]]''
* [[Frodo (chimpanzee)|Frodo]] (1976–2013)—chimpanzee, baby-eating "bully", attacked [[Jane Goodall]] and [[Gary Larson]]
* [[Gua (chimpanzee)|Gua]]—chimpanzee; raised as a child by the Drs. Kellogg alongside their son Donald
* [[Ham (chimpanzee)|Ham]] (1956–1983)—chimpanzee; the first [[great ape]] to successfully [[monkeys and apes in space|travel to space]], Ham's 1961 NASA [[Project Mercury]] suborbital flight occurred 11 months before [[Enos (chimpanzee)|Enos]]' orbital mission.
* [[Jenny (orangutan)|Jenny]]—orangutan, encountered and described by [[Charles Darwin]] in March 1838 at [[London Zoo]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/darwin-at-the-zoo/|title=Darwin at the Zoo|last=Weiner|first=Jonathan|journal=Scientific American|year=2006|volume=295|issue=6|pages=114–119|doi=10.1038/scientificamerican1206-114|pmid=17144359|bibcode=2006SciAm.295f.114W|language=en|access-date=2019-07-11|archive-date=2017-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829220548/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/darwin-at-the-zoo/|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
* [[Kanzi]] (1980-2025)—bonobo, involved with language research and tool invention, ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador
* [[Koko (gorilla)|Koko]] (1971–2018)—gorilla, involved with sign language research and ApeNet language-using great ape ambassador
* [[Lana (chimpanzee)|Lana]]—chimpanzee, reared at [[Yerkes National Primate Research Center]] as part of its language analogue project
* [[Loulis]]—chimpanzee, involved in ape hand-signing research
* [[Lucy (Chimpanzee)|Lucy]]—chimpanzee, cross-fostered and raised by [[University of Oklahoma]] psychotherapist
* [[Moja (chimpanzee)|Moja]]—chimpanzee, involved in ape hand-signing research
* [[Nim Chimpsky]] (1973–2000)—chimpanzee, named after linguist [[Noam Chomsky]]
* [[Nyota (Bonobo)|Nyota]] (born 1998)—bonobo, [[Panzee and Panbanisha|Panbanisha's]] son
* [[Oliver the chimp|Oliver]] (1957–2012)—chimpanzee, the so-called "Missing Link", apparent "humanzee"
* [[Panbanisha]]—bonobo at the same research center as Kanzi
* [[Panpanzee]] (1985–2014)—chimpanzee at the same research center as Kanzi
* [[Poco (chimpanzee)|Poco]] (1981)—chimpanzee researched by [[Robin Crompton]] whose early confinement resulted in human-like bipedality 
* [[Sarah (chimpanzee)|Sarah]] (1959–2019)—research chimpanzee whose cognitive skills are documented in ''[[The Mind of an Ape]]''
* [[Sultan (ape)|Sultan]]—chimpanzee, used in classic Kohler tool-use studies
* [[Titus (gorilla)|Titus]] (1974–2009)—gorilla, an extensively observed silverback [[mountain gorilla]]
* [[Viki (chimpanzee)|Viki]]—chimpanzee, one of the first apes used in ape language experiments
* [[Washoe (chimpanzee)|Washoe]] (1965–2007)—chimpanzee, pioneer ape of hand-signing research

== Zoo-kept ==
[[File:ColoAtZoo.JPG|thumb|[[Colo (gorilla)|Colo]] was both the first gorilla born in captivity and the oldest gorilla in captivity, and lived her entire life at the [[Columbus Zoo]].]]
* [[Ah Meng]] (1960–2008) was a female Sumatran orangutan and a tourism icon of Singapore.
* [[Alfred the Gorilla]] (1928–1948) lived in [[Bristol Zoo]].
* [[Ambam (gorilla)|Ambam]] (1990–2022) lived in [[Port Lympne Wild Animal Park]]
* [[Azalea (chimpanzee)|Azalea]], a chimpanzee living at the [[Korea Central Zoo]] known for her ability to smoke cigarettes
* Bill (1946–2007), a long-lived chimpanzee, resided at [[Sequoia Park Zoo]] in [[Eureka, California]], for 50 years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/saga-of-an-ape-the-surprising-true-story-of-the-late-bill-the-chimp/Content?oid=2125921|title=Saga of an Ape — The surprising true story of the late Bill the Chimp|last=Mintz|first=Daniel|website=North Coast Journal|language=en|access-date=2019-07-11|archive-date=2020-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128170330/https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/saga-of-an-ape-the-surprising-true-story-of-the-late-bill-the-chimp/Content?oid=2125921|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Binti Jua]], a gorilla living in [[Brookfield Zoo]], saved a boy in 1996.
* [[Bobo (gorilla)|Bobo]] (1951–1968), a western lowland gorilla, lived in the Lowman family home in [[Anacortes, Washington]], from his infancy until 1953, and then [[Woodland Park Zoo]] in [[Seattle]] until his death.
* [[Bokito (gorilla)|Bokito]] (1996–2023), a silverback gorilla, escaped from the [[Diergaarde Blijdorp|Blijdorp Zoo]] on 18 May 2007 and injured a woman.
* Bushman, of Chicago's [[Lincoln Park Zoo]], was the most famous zoo gorilla in the U.S. at the time of his death in 1951.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gott |first=Ted |title=Gorilla |last2=Weir |first2=Kathryn |date=2013 |publisher=Reaktion |location=London |pages=112}}</ref> He was known for his geniality and considered by ''Time'' as "the best known and most popular figure in Chicago" in 1950.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 26, 1950 |title=Manners and Morals: The Jovial Gorilla |url=https://time.com/archive/6795236/manners-morals-the-jovial-gorilla/ |access-date=October 22, 2025 |work=Time}}</ref> While alive, he brought over 100 million visitors to the zoo; his taxidermic remains could be seen at Chicago's [[Field Museum of Natural History]].<ref>[http://www.wbez.org/blogs/john-r-schmidt/2012-12/111951-rip-bushman-104576 Bushman, Lincoln Park Zoo gorilla died on New Year's Day in 1951 | WBEZ 91.5 Chicago<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513083937/http://www.wbez.org/blogs/john-r-schmidt/2012-12/111951-rip-bushman-104576 |date=2013-05-13 }}</ref>
* [[Charles the Gorilla|Charles]] (1972–2024), a wild-born silverback western lowland gorilla, renowned for his artwork, since 1974. Resided at the [[Toronto Zoo]].
* [[Colo (gorilla)|Colo]] (1956–2017) was both the first [[gorilla]] born in captivity and, living to be 60, [[Oldest apes#Gorillas|the oldest gorilla]] in captivity. She was born in the [[Columbus Zoo]] and lived there her entire life.
* [[:nl:Gust|Gust]] (1952–1988) was a Congolese gorilla that became an icon of the [[Antwerp Zoo]]
* [[Guy the Gorilla]] (1946–1978) was a famous gorilla in London Zoo.
* [[Harambe]] (1999–2016) was a gorilla shot dead by the [[Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden|Cincinnati Zoo]] after a child fell into his enclosure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/posts/10154082080110479|title=Cincinnati Zoo Devastated by Death of... - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden {{!}} Facebook|website=www.facebook.com|access-date=2016-05-30|archive-date=2016-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529223601/https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/posts/10154082080110479|url-status=live}}</ref> This would eventually lead to the deceased ape becoming a popular [[Internet meme]].
* [[Ivan (gorilla)|Ivan]] (1962–2012) was a [[western lowland gorilla]] who lived in a shopping mall in [[Tacoma, Washington]], who was also the inspiration for the 2012 book ''[[The One and Only Ivan]]'', which was then drafted into a [[The One and Only Ivan (film)|2020 film]] of the same name.
* [[Jambo (gorilla)|Jambo]] (1961–1992), a gorilla, cared for a boy who fell into his enclosure.
* [[Jenny (gorilla)|Jenny]] (1953–2008), a western lowland gorilla, lived at the [[Dallas Zoo]] from 1957 until her death, and was the oldest gorilla in captivity at the time of her death.
* [[Jo Mendi II]] (1939–1980), a chimpanzee at the [[Detroit Zoo]] who became known as "the greatest performing chimp of all time."<ref name=DFP58>{{cite news|title=Jo Mendi, Wonderful Ape, Is Still Alive, But Forgotten|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=James Pooler|date=April 13, 1958|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83741537/jo-mendi-ii/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=August 19, 2021|archive-date=August 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819165356/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83741537/jo-mendi-ii/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Julius (chimpanzee)|Julius]] (born 1979), a chimpanzee at [[Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park]] known for living his childhood with a human family. 
* [[Jumoke (gorilla)|Jumoke]] (1989–2008)—western lowland gorilla and the granddaughter of [[Colo (gorilla)|Colo]]
* [[Karen (orangutan)|Karen]] (born 1992), a [[Sumatran orangutan]], who was the first zoo animal to have open heart surgery at the [[San Diego Zoo]] in 1994.<ref name="SanDiegoZoo2015">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/karen|title=Karen|date=18 March 2015|website=San Diego Zoo Centennial|language=en|access-date=9 March 2019|archive-date=7 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207045734/https://www.sandiegozoo100.org/100-animals/karen|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Ken Allen]] (1971–2000)—[[Bornean orangutan]] at the [[San Diego Zoo]] known for his escape artistry
* [[Little Mama]] (1938–2017) — chimpanzee, and believed to be the oldest chimpanzee on record
* [[Louis (gorilla)|Louis]], a male [[western lowland gorilla]] known for walking upright in order to avoid muddying his hands. Currently resides at [[Zoo de Granby]] in [[Granby, Quebec]].
* [[Massa (gorilla)|Massa]] (1930–1984) — silverback, one of the [[Oldest apes#Gorillas|longest-lived gorilla ever recorded]], and second-longest-lived male in captivity, died at age 54
* [[Max (gorilla)|Max]] (1971–2004) — gorilla in the [[Johannesburg Zoo]], famously apprehended a criminal in 1997, getting shot twice in the process
*[[Ndume (gorilla)|Ndume]], a male [[western lowland gorilla]] known for learning a limited amount of a modified version of American Sign Language (ASL) and for being at the center of a lawsuit. Currently resides at [[Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden|Cincinnati Zoo]] in [[Cincinnati, Ohio]].
* [[Ozzie (gorilla)|Ozzie]] (1961–2022) — western lowland gorilla the [[Zoo Atlanta]].
* [[Pattycake (gorilla)|Pattycake]] (1972–2013), first baby gorilla born in New York, mother of 10, later died in captivity at Bronx Zoo
* [[Rita (chimpanzee)|Rita]] ({{Circa|1928}}–1940), chimpanzee at [[Tennōji Zoo]]
* [[Sandra (orangutan)|Sandra]] (1986–) — orangutan involved in historic legal case in [[Argentina]] involving personhood for nonhumans
* [[Sami (chimpanzee)|Sami]] (1979–1992) — chimpanzee at the [[Belgrade Zoo]], known for escaping his enclosure twice in February of 1988
* [[Samson (gorilla)|Samson]] (1949–1981)—for many years the face of the [[Milwaukee County Zoo]], one of the largest silverback gorillas on record, weighing 652&nbsp;lbs. (296&nbsp;kg) in 1973<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zoosociety.org/Education/FunStuff/SamsonMemories.php|title=Memories of Samson the Gorilla {{!}} Zoological Society of Milwaukee|website=www.zoosociety.org|access-date=2019-07-11|archive-date=2019-07-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711075448/https://www.zoosociety.org/Education/FunStuff/SamsonMemories.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Santino (chimpanzee)|Santino]], a male chimpanzee at [[Furuvik]] zoo in [[Sweden]], was notable for having the cognitive skills for forward planning (calmly collecting stones, and later throwing them at visitors).
* [[Shabani (gorilla)|Shabani]], a male [[western lowland gorilla]] known for his "photogenic" and "metrosexual" appearance, as well as his talent for [[tightrope walking]]. Currently resides at the [[Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens|Higashiyama Zoo]] in [[Nagoya, Japan]].
* [[Snowflake (gorilla)|Snowflake]] (1964–2003), the only known [[albino]] lowland gorilla.
* [[Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden#Susie|Susie]] (1931 –1947) Cincinnati Zoo. One of the most popular animals at the zoo until her death on October 29, 1947.
*[[Timmy (gorilla)]] (1959–2011), died at 52 as the oldest male gorilla in North America
*[[Willie B.]] (1959–2000), a silverback gorilla kept in isolation for 27 years, became head of a troop and father of five.

== Circus use ==
* [[Gargantua (gorilla)|Gargantua]] (1929–1949)—acid-scarred gorilla captured in the wild, performed in the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]]
* [[Toto (gorilla)|Toto]] (1931–1968)—Gargantua's would-be mate
* [[John Daniel (gorilla)|John Daniel]] and [[John Daniel II (gorilla)|John Daniel II]], [[western gorilla]]s that toured briefly with Ringling

== As politicians ==
* [[Macaco Tião]], a chimpanzee, had the habit of throwing excrement at visitors (including several politicians) to the [[Rio de Janeiro]] Zoo. A [[Casseta e Planeta|satirical newspaper]] ran his candidature for [[List of mayors of Rio de Janeiro|Rio de Janeiro mayor]] in 1988, and he got 9.5% of the votes, just behind [[Marcello Alencar]] and [[Cesar Maia|César Maia]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www0.rio.rj.gov.br/pcrj/destaques/especial/riozoo.htm | title = Fundação RIOZOO | first1 = F. | last1 = David | first2 = A. | last2 = Jamel | publisher = Prefeitura da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro | language = pt | access-date = 2013-02-13 | archive-date = 2016-03-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231350/http://www0.rio.rj.gov.br/pcrj/destaques/especial/riozoo.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>
*[[Non-human electoral candidates|Colossus the Gorilla]] was a main attraction at [[Benson's Wild Animal Farm]] in [[Hudson, New Hampshire]], who attempted to have Colossus put on the ballot in the [[Republican Party presidential primaries, 1980|1980 New Hampshire Republican Presidential primary]]. The zoo tried to argue that the [[U.S. Constitution]] does not specify that a native-born candidate has to be human.<ref>{{cite web|last=Garnick|first=Darren|title=Hillary Cried Here: An Unconventional Tourist Guide to the N.H. Primary|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/01/hillary-cried-here-an-unconventional-tourist-guide-to-the-nh-primary/250848/|work=Tourist Guide to the N.H. Primary|date=6 January 2012|publisher=The Atlantic|access-date=10 January 2014|archive-date=10 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110205716/http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/01/hillary-cried-here-an-unconventional-tourist-guide-to-the-nh-primary/250848/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Pets==
*[[Bubbles (chimpanzee)|Bubbles]] (b. 1983)—chimpanzee belonging to singer [[Michael Jackson]] from 1985 to 2005. Appeared in Jackson's "Liberia Girl" music video. In 2005, Jackson admitted that Bubbles had grown from the cute and cuddly {{Convert|10|lb|abbr=on}} "baby" Jackson had treated as a human child, to a very large, very strong, pugnacious {{Convert|180|lb|abbr=on}} adult male. Bubbles was initially moved to a private wildlife reserve in the late 1980s, and in 2004, he was relocated to the [[Center for Great Apes]], in Wauchula, Florida.
* [[St. James Davis chimpanzee attack|Moe]], a chimpanzee who lived with a California couple until he was seized by authorities.<ref name="ABC">{{cite news |title=Too Close For Comfort |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1044680 |access-date=20 January 2023 |publisher=ABC News |date=14 August 2006}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Lists}}
* [[List of individual monkeys]]
* [[List of fictional primates]]
* [[Monkeys and apes in space]]
* [[Oldest hominids]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Great apes}}
{{Notable apes}}

[[Category:Individual apes| ]]
[[Category:Lists of individual animals|Apes]]
[[Category:Lists of primates| ]]