We know little about the circumstances of Obi the baboon’s birth, other than he was born in 2012 at Cricket Hollow Zoo, a roadside zoo closed down due to deplorable conditions late last year. Less than a month after his birth, the owners of the zoo sought advice on how to take him away from his mom so that they could hand-rear him – apparently so that he could be an “ambassador” animal for zoo visitors to get close to. The zoo consulted a veterinarian, who recommend that they do not do it. They were warned of the serious mental trauma this would cause both the baby animal and his mom. The zoo went ahead and did it anyway.
Testimony from the court case suggested that Obi was taken from his mother, dressed in diapers, hand-reared and shown off to zoo visitors as some kind of living prop. His mother died that same year of unknown causes. To our knowledge, he was never reunited with her.
When he was around a year old, he was put in solitary confinement. He could see and hear the other monkeys through gaps in his cage but, as we understand, he never spent time with another monkey after his cruel separation from his mom as a baby. He developed disturbing behaviors, known as stereotypies, which are indicative of mental trauma. He would pace constantly and “head twist,” which is a common stress-triggered behavior in captive monkeys. He would bang his head against the wall of his enclosure repeatedly.
After six more years of this torture, Obi died. He died in 2019 from swelling of the brain. The zoo claimed that his death was caused by meningitis but, during legal proceedings, the court was told that this was not true. No testing for meningitis was ever carried out by the zoo and Obi’s tragic death at just seven years old was more likely caused by the repeated physical trauma to his head caused by his pathological behavior of banging his head against his enclosure wall. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that Obi effectively killed himself.
Obi’s tragic death at just seven years old was more likely caused by the repeated physical trauma to his head caused by his pathological behavior of banging his head against his enclosure wall. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that Obi effectively killed himself.
The same year that Obi tragically died, the zoo was dramatically closed down following legal proceedings. Obi’s dad, Marlin, and his sisters, Violet and Presley, were rescued from that place and given a second chance at life here at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary. The little family is now thriving and enjoying their new 1-acre, open top enclosure. They are, for the first time, receiving a nutritious diet and expert veterinary care. We hope that they will spend many happy years here under our care.
While we watch with delight as our new arrivals settle into their day-to-day here, it is difficult for us not to think of the ones who didn’t make it and who were not able to receive a second-chance at life, like Obi and his mom. It is difficult not to think of the ones who remain in squalid cages in roadside zoos like Cricket Hollow right now. There are thousands of animals like Obi who are suffering in exploitative situations in captivity and we are dedicated to continuing to fight for them, while caring for those who we are able to help.
We know that you are right there beside us – both in your support for campaigns to end animal suffering in captivity and for our sanctuary’s 450 plus residents. Everything we do is made possible by you.
In memory of Obi, please consider adopting his surviving family members, Marlin, Violet, and Presley, and supporting them in their new lives here at the sanctuary.
For the Monkeys,
Liz
