In September 2020, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore welcomed a unique resident to their zoo. That new inhabitant was an adorable baby chimpanzee named Maisie. This little one was unlike any resident they had before.
Before she arrived in Baltimore, Maisie had lived at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Unfortunately, her birth mother struggled to give her proper care, so she came to the Maryland Zoo to be hand-raised by the staff.
In a lot of ways, raising Maisie was a lot like raising a human child. She required diapers and opportunities for enrichment. And like a human child, Maisie came with many unforeseen costs.
As any parent will tell you, taking care of a baby requires a lot of time and financial stress. “Caring for an infant chimp comes with significant expenses, including the costs of diapers, formula and enrichment,” the Maryland Zoo wrote in their video.
That was not to say that taking care of Maisie did not come with its moments of joy. Like a human infant, she loved getting tickled and would flash a gummy smile when her foster parent played with her.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore wanted to make sure they could continue to provide the support and care that Maisie needed. So, they created a fundraiser to help curb the increased costs of raising a chimpanzee.
Whether you are a fan of babies or not, it is impossible not to smile while looking at this little one. Watch Maisie’s new parents take care of her in this short video.
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