Betty, Dublin Zoo’s longest resident and oldest chimp in human care, dead at 62 — rest in peace

Betty, the chimpanzee that had been at the Dublin Zoo for the longest and the oldest living chimp under human care, passed away last week at the age of 62. She was one of the zoo’s most cherished and well-known inmates.

A zoo blog article claims that Betty had age-related ailments that were impairing her quality of life, and the tough choice to end her life was made to spare her from suffering in the future.

Although it is heartbreaking to lose Betty, she enjoyed a lengthy life that exceeded the average lifespan of a chimpanzee in captivity. According to the zoo, she was also the oldest chimpanzee in human care at the time of her death.

Team leader Helen Clarke Bennett of Dublin Zoo, who has worked as a zookeeper since 1987 and has known Betty for many years, paid tribute to her.

In 1964, a West African chimpanzee named Betty made her way to Dublin. Bennett notes that Betty participated in archaic practices like “Chimp Tea Parties” and that the Dublin Zoo continued to operate in the “style of the early Victorian era zoos” throughout that period.

Betty saw major advancements in zoo standards throughout her decades-long confinement. For example, in the 1990s, the chimp habitat was transformed from a metal-barred concrete “pit” to an island with trees.

Bennett claimed to have known Betty since the zoo’s early years since Michael Clarke, Betty’s father, was looking after her at the time. The chimp was “always strong-minded,” according to him, and would not give up on her goals.

After Wendy moved in 1964, Betty’s best friend, Wendy, became an integral part of her life for the majority of it. One of the cutest pairs in the zoo was formed by the two monkeys.

“Wendy had a cheeky side, but Betty could hold her accountable!” Bennett penned the piece. “When Wendy was obstinately refusing to go outside while the habitat was being cleaned, Betty putting her arm around her to encourage her to go outside with the rest of the troop will always be one of my favorite pictures.”

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Betty and Wendy celebrated their 50th birthdays together in 2012 at the zoo. The zoo workers believed that Betty, who was devastated by Wendy’s death in 2014, wouldn’t be far behind.

She even managed to live on for a further ten years, rising to the rank of dominating female chimpanzee and earning the title of longest-serving inhabitant of the zoo.

Bennett stated that Betty experienced reduced kidney function and chronic arthritis in her latter years, which affected her weight and mobility. She was also under continuous wellness management.

They had to make the tough but humane decision to end the beloved chimp’s life after all medicinal and surgical alternatives had been tried. Even though Betty is no longer with us, she will always be cherished as a unique original and a zoogoer’s favorite for many decades to come.

“Although I am really saddened to bid farewell to a friend I have known since I was a young child, I am sure that Betty’s euthanasia was the right choice, ensuring that she didn’t suffer needlessly and preserving her dignity to the very end. That gives me a great deal of comfort,” Bennett wrote.

“Everyone here at Dublin Zoo as well as the many generations of visitors who were fortunate enough to know her will miss Betty terribly; there will never be another like her.”

Peace be with you, Betty. You lived a very long life, and it’s obvious that your loved ones and caregivers cherished you.

My Husband Insisted I Stay Home with Our Ill Children While He Vacationed — He’ll Always Remember the Lesson I Gave Him

When our kids fell ill and couldn’t go on our planned family vacation, my husband just ditched us and went alone. What he didn’t know was that his little “me time” getaway would cost him way more than he bargained for.

I trdged through the front door at 8:30 p.m., my feet throbbing after a grueling twelve-hour shift at the hospital. The cacophony hit me like a wall: cartoons blaring from the TV, Zach and Penny shrieking as they chased each other around the living room.

And there was Garrett, sprawled on the couch like a beached whale, beer in hand.

“Hey, babe,” he called out, not bothering to look up from his phone. “Rough day?”

I bit back a sarcastic reply. “You could say that. The ER was a madhouse.” I glanced at the disaster zone of toys and snack wrappers surrounding him. “Did you feed the kids dinner?”

Garrett shrugged. “They had some chips earlier. I figured you’d want to cook when you got home.”

I closed my eyes, counting to ten. This had become our new normal over the past few years. I’d come home from saving lives to find a house in chaos and a husband who couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger.

“Mommy!” Penny latched onto my leg, her blonde pigtails askew. “I’m starving!”

I forced a smile. “Okay, sweetie. Let’s get you both some real food.”

As I reheated leftovers, my mind drifted to our upcoming beach vacation. Maybe a change of scenery would help us reconnect, remind Garrett why we fell in love in the first place.

“So, you packed for the trip yet?” I asked, setting plates in front of the kids.

Garrett grunted. “Nah, I’ll throw some stuff in a bag tomorrow. No big deal.”

I sighed. “We leave in two days, Garrett. A little planning wouldn’t kill you.”

He rolled his eyes. “Relax, it’ll be fine. You worry too much.”

The night before our flight, I woke to the sound of retching. Zach was hunched over the toilet, his face pale and clammy. Within an hour, Penny was sick too.

I gently broke the news to Garrett over breakfast. “We’ll have to postpone the trip. The kids have a nasty stomach bug.”

He froze, fork halfway to his mouth. “What? No way. I’ve been looking forward to this for months!”

“I know, but they’re too sick to travel. We can reschedule”

Garrett’s jaw clenched. “I’m still going.”

I stared at him, sure I’d misheard. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I need this break, Nora. Work’s been insane lately.”

“And my job isn’t?” I snapped. “I’m a nurse, Garrett. I deal with real emergencies every day.”

He scoffed. “It’s not a competition. Look, you stay with the kids. I’ll go enjoy the beach for both of us.”

I watched in disbelief as he packed his suitcase, ignoring Zach and Penny’s disappointed faces. As the front door slammed behind him, something inside me snapped.

The next week was hell. I juggled caring for two miserable children, all while stewing in rage every time Garrett sent a smug beach selfie.

On Friday, my phone buzzed with another photo: Garrett grinning over a fancy cocktail, caption reading “Living the dream!”

That was it. I had had enough, and I had a plan.

I marched into the garage, surveying Garrett’s precious “man cave.” His fishing gear, the boat he’d barely used, piles of expensive junk he’d accumulated over the years. A plan formed in my mind.

I spent the next few hours photographing everything, creating listings on the local buy-and-sell site. Within days, Garrett’s prized possessions were gone, replaced by a fat wad of cash in my purse.

“Guess what, kids?” I announced over breakfast. “We’re going on our own special vacation!”

Their eyes lit up. Zach pumped his fist. “Awesome! Where are we going?”

I grinned. “It’s a surprise. But I promise it’ll be even better than Dad’s boring old beach.”

We arrived at the resort a few days later, the kids bouncing with excitement. As I watched them splash in the pool, I felt lighter than I had in years.

“Mom, watch this!” Zach called, attempting a cannonball. I cheered, then turned to help Penny blow up her water wings.

“You’re a natural with them,” a voice behind me said. I turned to see a woman about my age smiling. “Single mom?”

I hesitated. “It’s… complicated.”

She nodded knowingly. “I’ve been there. I’m Tessa, by the way.”

We chatted as the kids played, swapping stories about work and parenthood. It felt good to connect with someone who understood.

“So, what’s your story?” Tessa asked, sipping her lemonade.

I sighed. “My husband decided to go on our family vacation without us when the kids got sick. Left me to deal with everything while he partied on the beach.”

Tessa’s eyes widened. “Seriously? What a jerk!”

I nodded. “Yeah, it was the last straw. I’ve been putting up with his selfishness for years, but this — I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

“So what did you do?” she asked.

A mischievous smile crept across my face. “I sold all his precious toys and used the money to bring the kids here.”

Tessa burst out laughing. “Oh my God, that’s brilliant! How’d he take it?”

“He doesn’t know yet,” I admitted. “But I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.”

As if on cue, my phone started buzzing. Garrett’s name flashed on the screen.

“Speaking of the devil,” I muttered. “I should probably take this.”

Tessa gave me an encouraging nod. “Go get ’em, tiger.”

I stepped away from the pool, taking a deep breath before answering. “Hello?”

“Where the hell is all my stuff?” Garrett shouted, not bothering with a greeting.

I leaned against a palm tree, surprisingly calm. “Oh, you noticed? I thought you’d be too busy ‘living the dream’ to care.”

“Don’t play games, Nora. What did you do?”

“I sold it,” I said simply. “All of it. Your precious fishing rods, that boat you never use, everything.”

There was a moment of stunned silence. Then, “You what? How could you!”

“How could I?” I interrupted, my voice rising. “How could you abandon your sick children for a beach vacation? How could you ignore everything I do for this family?”

“That’s different! I work hard to provide for you.”

“And I don’t?” I shot back. “I’m done, Garrett. Done with your selfishness, done with being taken for granted.”

He sputtered, “What are you saying?”

I took a deep breath. “I’m saying I want a divorce.”

The line went quiet. When Garrett spoke again, his voice was low and dangerous. “You’ll regret this, Nora. I’ll make sure of it.”

I hung up, my hands shaking. Part of me wanted to cry, to mourn the life we’d built together. But a larger part felt… free.

I walked back to the pool, where Tessa was indulging in a cocktail.

“Everything okay?” she asked, concern etched on her face.

I nodded, managing a small smile. “Yeah, I think it will be. I just told my husband I want a divorce.”

Tessa’s eyes widened. “Wow, that’s huge. How do you feel?”

“Scared,” I admitted. “But also relieved? Like I can finally breathe again.”

She squeezed my hand. “That’s totally normal. Trust me, it gets better.”

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the kids, building elaborate sandcastles and splashing in the waves. For the first time in years, I felt genuinely happy.

That night, as I tucked the kids into bed, Zach looked up at me with serious eyes. “Mom, are you and Dad getting divorced?”

My breath caught in my throat. “Why do you ask that, sweetie?”

He shrugged. “I heard you on the phone. And you seem happier here without him.”

I sat on the edge of his bed, choosing my words carefully. “Your dad and I have been having problems for a while now. We’re going to try to work things out, but… yes, we might get divorced.”

Zach nodded solemnly. “Okay. As long as you’re happy, Mom. That’s what matters.”

Tears pricked my eyes as I hugged him tight. “When did you get so wise, huh?”

After the kids were asleep, I stood on the balcony, watching the moonlight dance on the waves. My phone buzzed with a text from Garrett:

“This isn’t over. I’ll see you in court.”

I took a deep breath, letting the ocean air fill my lungs. The road ahead would be tough, but I felt ready to face whatever came my way.

As I crawled into bed, I thought about the uncertain future ahead of us. It was terrifying, yes, but also exhilarating. For the first time in years, I felt like I was taking control of my life.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but for now, I let the sound of the ocean lull me to sleep, dreaming of the fresh start waiting on the horizon.

What would you have done?

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