A new study led by researchers at National Museums Scotland describes the first comprehensive osteobiography of a zoo animal, a cutting-edge scientific method that involves the analysis of bones and tissue.
These techniques have been applied to reveal the in-depth story of the life of Choppers, star of the 1970s PG Tips advertising campaign, illustrating the changing role of zoos over the past 50 years.
This pioneering research is part of the Animal Feeding project funded by Wellcome.
The study was published in Scientific Reports last week (12 March). It comes as the National Museum of Scotland prepares to welcome the return of the biggest exhibition of primate biology ever staged, Monkeys: Our Primate Family, opening on 28 June.
Choppers, a Western Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) played Grandmother Ada Lott in the iconic British television ads when she was still a juvenile. She had been rescued from poachers in Sierra Leone at just six weeks old before being brought to the UK and going on to appear in the series of adverts. She was cared for at Twycross Zoo in Leicestershire for over 40 years, until her death in 2016.
Osteobiographies are rarely performed on modern animal specimens and have never been applied so comprehensively to a zoo animal before now. The technique is more commonly used in archaeology to reconstruct the life stories of ancient human subjects, such as Richard III, identifying where and how they lived in remarkable detail.
As a celebrity, Choppers’ life has been extensively documented. This combination of archival material and osteobiographical analysis provides the most complete assessment of the life of an animal in zoo care, highlighting advances in zoological practices.
Dr David Cooper, Researcher at National Museums Scotland and lead author of the study, said: “Choppers was beloved by audiences across the UK for years.
“Now the innovative application of osteobiographical analysis has allowed us to tell her story like never before.
“Her life is a testament to the many thousands of chimpanzees that were taken from the wild and charts a crucial shift in the priorities of zoos away from entertainment and towards education, conservation, research and welfare.”
Choppers’ skeleton was donated to National Museums Scotland by Twycross Zoo, enriching Scotland’s internationally significant natural science collection which comprises more than 10 million specimens and is in constant use for study and research.
Dr Andrew Kitchener, Principal Curator of Vertebrate Biology at National Museums Scotland, said: ““Natural science collections are an invaluable resource in understanding the world in which we live, offering insight into some of the greatest challenges of our age, from biodiversity loss to the climate crisis.
“Our collections are increasingly reflecting the impacts of human activities both locally and globally, and hence are important for providing evidence of those impacts and how we can mitigate against them. We are grateful to zoos like Twycross for their support in developing Scotland’s National Collection, ensuring it remains at the forefront of international research efforts today and into the future.”
This osteobiography was created through the direct application of biogeochemical, pathological, and morphometric analytic techniques. The findings of this study paint a rich picture of Choppers’ key life events, including evidence of traumatic injuries sustained when she was poached from the wild in infancy. These would impact her throughout her life, impairing her movement and exacerbating degenerative issues associated with old age..
Isotopic analyses of Choppers’ tooth enamel indicate a distinct geographical and dietary shift between the ages of three and four, coinciding with her relocation to the UK. In the following three years she played the grandmother character in the PG Tips adverts, despite her youth
She was retired as she reached puberty at around six or seven. Strikingly, Choppers’ upper jaw was significantly elongated when compared with that of wild chimpanzees, reflecting an early diet of sugary soft fruit.
In recent years there has been a dramatic shift towards tougher, less sugary vegetables in the diets of zoo primates, which is leading to significant improvements in primate health and behaviour.
In addition to National Museums Scotland, the study also involved researchers from the University of Exeter, the University of Reading, Twycross Zoo and the University of Edinburgh.
Phillipa Dobbs, Veterinary Services Manager at Twycross Zoo said: “We’re delighted to be able to support this incredible work. At Twycross Zoo, our commitment to animal welfare extends beyond an individual’s lifetime, and studies like this allow us to ensure they contribute to scientific knowledge.
“Choppers was an important part of our history, and this pioneering research offers new insights into her life and the evolving role of modern zoos. By supporting studies like this, we can continue to learn from the past and drive progress in animal care, welfare, science and conservation. It’s an honour to be involved.”