'One in a million' chimpanzee Boris dies aged 58

Chester Zoo is grieving the loss of Boris - a cherished 58-year-old chimpanzee and one of its oldest inhabitants. Boris had been a mainstay at the zoo for over half a century but had recently exhibited signs of deteriorating health due to his age. Despite receiving top-notch care and daily medication from the zoo's veterinary and primate experts, Boris's condition worsened rapidly.

The tough decision to put him down was made on Thursday, July 25. The zoo community has since been honoring his "extraordinary legacy" and reflecting on his impactful life, which began when he was rescued from a pet shop window in New York.

Mike Jordan, director of animals and plants at Chester Zoo, said: "This is one of those days that you hope will never come and we're all heartbroken to say goodbye to Boris he really was one in a million. But, as sad as today is, we all take comfort from his incredible life story, not least the phenomenal impact he's had on his highly threatened species," reports the Mirror .

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Boris played a key role in the establishment of an international conservation breeding program for western chimpanzees, fathering 22 offspring.

His legacy also includes being a great-grandfather - with descendants spread across the globe - a testament to his remarkable life, especially considering his traumatic early years, which included being orphaned and subjected to the illegal wildlife trade before ending up in a New York pet shop.

Boris, raised by American journalist and four-time Emmy-nominated author Hester Mundis in a Manhattan apartment, eventually found his permanent home at Chester Zoo. Once Boris outgrew his apartment space, Hester began her search for a new home for him, according to the Liverpool Echo.

She revealed: "I researched literally all the zoos in the world and Chester Zoo was the answer to our prayers. Its reputation for caring for chimpanzees was excellent." Thanks to George Mottershead, the founder of Chester Zoo, Boris relocated to the zoo in 1969.

A beloved fixture, Boris was immortalized with a bronze statue at the zoo. Over the years, Hester paid him multiple visits, expressing her satisfaction with his life at the facility: "I couldn't have wished for more for Boris, as he [had] a wonderful life here."

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Andy Lenihan, who assisted in caring for Boris for over four decades, gave heartfelt tribute saying: "Boris was a wonderfully colorful character and I'll miss him enormously it really does feel like losing an old friend. I will though always have so many fabulous memories of him. He was a proper character with a great sense of humor."

Andy reminisced: "I vividly remember one occasion, back in 1989, when the zoo was gearing up for a visit from Princess Diana to mark the official opening of a new chimpanzee habitat. Boris was particularly excitable that day and had a tendency to throw things. It would have been highly embarrassing if he had done so while we were showing the princess around, so we had to encourage him to stay in his own private area for the morning!"

He also shared: "It's been a privilege to be able to care for Boris and play a part in providing him with the happy life he's had. I feel incredibly fortunate to have known him and I, and I know many, many others, will miss him dearly. It's fair to say there'll never be another Boris."

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