An osteobiography of Choppers the PG Tips Chimpanzee: A life less ordinary
Resource type
Lecture
Creator (person)
Abstract
Key findings from their osteobiographical study of Choppers (1970–2016), who appeared in 1970s PG Tips commercials, included:
Early Life Trauma: Evidence of serious injuries to her right arm and knee, likely sustained during her poaching in Sierra Leone as an infant.
Dietary Shifts: Isotopic analysis of tooth enamel showed a distinct shift in diet and location between age 3 and 4, corresponding with her relocation to the UK, and an "elongated" jaw resulting from a diet of sugary soft fruit.
Life in Captivity: As an "ADA Lott" actor in TV ads, she was forced into early retirement at puberty (age 6-7). She lived at Twycross Zoo for over 40 years, suffering from degenerative arthropathies and, in later life, a case of yersiniosis.
Osteobiography Method: The study applied forensic-style techniques to her skeleton, serving as a case study for the evolving, more ethical roles of modern zoos.
Event title
An osteobiography of Choppers the PG Tips Chimpanzee: A life less ordinary
Publisher
The ICAZ Animal Palaeopathology Working Group