Death of 'Parviz'; Eram Zoo Loses Its 'Grandfather' of Chimpanzees

The death of 'Parviz', one of the oldest chimpanzees in the world, has brought his name to the forefront of the news. Previously, Iranian media reported on his 'lethargy and loss of appetite'. While chimpanzees over 40 years old (the average lifespan of a chimpanzee) have frequently been subjects of news from around the world, and wildlife enthusiasts know their names, 'Parviz', estimated to be over 70 years old, was even unfamiliar to some Iranians. Parviz, 70, and 'Shirin', 55, are referred to as the grandparents of the younger chimpanzees at Eram Zoo in Tehran. According to reports published in Iranian media, Shirin has also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which requires medication and a special diet, the extent of care provided by officials in this regard is unclear. It was previously reported that Parviz was also suffering from heart disease. In June 2020, the situation of 'Baran', a baby chimpanzee born at Eram, highlighted the poor conditions for keeping Parviz, Shirin, and their offspring and grandchildren, as well as the substandard environment of the zoo. At that time, Iman Memarian, a wildlife veterinarian, explained in an interview with 'Rouydad 24' that the enclosure for these chimpanzees is 120 meters, with the external space divided into 4 parts and the internal space into 6 parts, resulting in Shirin's offspring forming 3 separate groups, each led by a male, making it impossible for the groups to merge. He stated: 'The internal space, where they stay every night, especially during the cold season, is in very unsuitable conditions. This has caused the chimpanzees to develop severe psychological problems, and instinctively they do not want a baby chimpanzee to grow up and survive in these conditions. For this reason, all the baby chimpanzees have been killed.' Baran was eventually transferred to Kenya and later died in a conflict with other chimpanzees. Chimpanzees, especially those reaching middle age, have significant applications in helping treat or prevent human diseases due to their close resemblance to humans. When these animals began to exhibit familiar age-related diseases in humans, such as heart disease and diabetes, researchers were astonished by the similarities between these closest relatives of humans and us. Chimpanzees, like humans, have different personalities and needs. Those chimpanzees kept by humans require even more care, such as space: researchers have found that when chimpanzees have limited space and less social cohesion, they begin to change their behavior to avoid conflict. If they have more space and more natural and usable environments, their well-being improves. Additionally, the diet of chimpanzees in human care is designed to encourage them to forage for food as they would in the wild. Suitable facilities for providing them with various nesting materials that they can use to create nests at different heights are also essential for their welfare. Inadequate care for animals, especially those that are rare, has always attracted significant criticism in Iran. The death of 'Pirouz', a ten-month-old cub, just hours after environmental activist Alireza Shahrestani announced the start of his dialysis, brought this issue back into the spotlight. At that time, several veterinarians linked Pirouz's kidney problems to the likely consumption of inappropriate food and the damage it caused. A year after Pirouz's death, the Environmental Protection Organization announced that pathology and autopsy reports indicated that 'Pirouz' had died due to ingesting a small piece of plastic. Despite widespread criticism, there has been no change in current policies or the conditions for keeping animals in Iran, and some of these animals have survived only thanks to the efforts and dedication of their caretakers and experts. This report utilized data from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago and domestic Iranian media.