Chimp Gets New Home In Oregon After One Rough Month

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An adolescent chimpanzee is getting new home at a Central Oregon animal sanctuary after what can only be described as one rough month in Las Vegas.

The 13-year-old chimp named CJ – short for Calamity Jane – was raised as pet in Vegas, where she was forced to pose for photos at local swap meets. Last month, CJ and another chimpanzee, Buddy, escaped from their backyard cages. CJ was captured. Buddy wasn’t as lucky. Police shot and killed the chimp after it moved menacingly towards onlookers.

Just this past Saturday, CJ escaped for a second time. That sped up her planned transfer to Chimps Inc., outside Bend.

“She’s had a pretty traumatic month in her life,” said Lesley Day, the sanctuary’s president and founder. “You know, she’s been sedated four different times, which takes a whole lot out of your body. We’re going to let her heal. We’re going to let her calm down and just relax for awhile.”

Chimps Inc. is a nonprofit that runs on private donations.

The sanctuary is home to seven other chimpanzees. Day says she expects CJ will fit in just fine.

This story originally appeared on Oregon Public Broadcasting.