Failed Chimpanzee Vasectomy or Virgin Birth?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 2:28pm

Modern-day miracle or a medical mistake? YOU decide.

I think God sent Tracy to us for reasons She will someday reveal.

===
Baby chimpanzee arrives naturally at Chimp Haven

Newborn comes despite males having had vasectomies

January 17, 2007

A closeup of newborn Tracy at the breast of her mother, a wild-born chimpanzee in her late 40s named Teresa.

By Teddy Allen
[e-mail]

Despite birth control steps taken among its residents, all retired, Chimp Haven is home to a newborn.

Teresa, a wild-born chimpanzee in her late 40s, delivered a baby girl Jan. 8, Chimp Haven announced Tuesday, eight days after the birth.

Mother and daughter, named Tracy, are alert and well.

The father's identity is unknown. All male chimpanzees receive vasectomies before they arrive at the sanctuary in southwest Caddo. A Chimp Haven news release dated Tuesday says information for paternity testing is being gathered "to determine who the father is, so that we can address the vasectomy failure immediately."

Local philanthropist and major donor William Robinson will provide costs for the care of Tracy, the 11th baby born to Teresa but her first in 13 years and her first since entering retirement in the sanctuary near Keithville.

Upkeep costs average about $5,000 per year per resident.

Tracy's arrival makes 90 chimps at the haven; she is the only one not in retirement.

Chimp Haven officials were hesitant to release the information until they were "sure mom and baby were doing fine," said Rick DelaHaya, the organization's public relations manager. Had the birth or first week of life resulted in complications or death, DelaHaya said, Chimp Haven "probably would have" released that information.

It is not unusual for females to have babies at Teresa's age, he said; behaviorists at Chimp Haven are aware of a female in captivity giving birth at age 60. Males can reproduce into their 50s, DelaHaya said.

Also, unplanned pregnancies have happened at other retirement homes, despite the males having had vasectomies, he said.

Chimp Haven personnel "suspected in late fall" that Teresa might be pregnant but were still "kind of surprised" by last week's birth, he said, "because of the age of Teresa ... plus the males all had vasectomies."

A timeline of determining the father is uncertain but "they've narrowed it down to three or four of the seven males in that group because of their interest in the female," DelaHaya said. Blood and hair samples are being collected from the males and will be collected from the baby, he said.

A special ceremony is not planned for the father once paternity is discovered, DelaHaya said when asked. "I think the ceremony will be that particular male having another procedure. Doesn't sound like much fun, but we do what we have to do."

Baby chimpanzee arrives naturally at Chimp Haven

Updated On: 1/17/07 at 02:28 PM

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 2:31pm

But can't vasectomies reverse themselves in humans?

I also saw on the Animal Planet where a lizard (i think it was a Komodo dragon) had a virgin birth. So it does happen...

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 2:32pm

And don't forget Mary.

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 2:33pm

What does Mrs. Haines have to with this?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 2:40pm

That was the obvious point SM2. It went without saying.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 2:41pm

Just sayin'...

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 2:46pm

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 3:09pm

Are those sock puppets in that manger?

Updated On: 1/17/07 at 03:09 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 3:30pm

Sock monkeys, PJ.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 4:14pm

One of them looks like Jose.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 4:17pm

I take offense to that, PJ. Not all Latinos look like monkeys.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 4:22pm

But some look like socks.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 4:26pm

Twelvy, don't even tell us what you searched on to get that picture.

Please.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 4:45pm

I'd be lookin' to the zookeeper of Chimp Haven to be the babydaddy.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 6:12pm

OK this proves it: Jesus is back and he's either a Chimp or a Lizard.

I'm hoping Chimp. I ain't worshiping no Jesus Lizard.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 6:18pm

Cheetah must be very happy

[Liverpool]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 8:39pm

Guys, it's clearly the second coming of christ. All praise Chimp Christ.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 9:01pm

In nome del patri, del santi, y del spiritu chimpanzee. Amen.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 9:38pm

Liverpool, that's going in my signature.
This is a dumb question, but do primates experience any kind of menopause?

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:17pm

... the opposite happened.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 1/17/07 at 10:35pm

Donde esta la estrella?

[aspen]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 12:24am

En la mochila?

Guys, Jesus was, like, totally not a chimpanzee. It was Joseph, hence the reason we got Donnie Osmond to play him in the musical (duh!).

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 9:45am

Rose--here are the findings on the National Institute on Aging Workshop on Primate Menopause:

===

Executive Summary

As a result of the workshop presentations on physiologic, hormonal and cycle changes across the perimenopause and in naturally and surgically menopausal female non-human primates (NHP), related discussions among the presenters and the Advisory Board members, and deliberations of the Advisory Board, four main areas of focus for future studies were identified. These were:

1. understanding the basic process of aging in NHP,
2. enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms of the perimenopausal transition and associated pathophysiologic outcomes,
3. research focused on the postmenopausal period, and
4. investigations that utilize the power of gene expression profiling and proteomics in enhancing our understanding of the aging process and the menopause.

The Advisory Board voiced the opinion that primatologists interested in aging and the menopause should be thoroughly familiar with basic concepts and the latest information on the biology of aging in other species. The need for expanded and stable funding for the maintenance and study of aging primate colonies cannot be underestimated. Finally, special review groups should be constituted to review research applications dealing with animal models of menopause because of the largely descriptive nature of this research at this stage.
NIA Workshop on Primate Models of the Menopause