Original PG Tips chimp passes away

One of the last remaining PG Tips chimpanzees has died at Twycross Zoo.

Choppers, who had been battling illness, was put to sleep on Wednesday Credit: Twycross Zoo

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Choppers was put to sleep after suffering from heart and kidney failure, the zoo confirmed.

At age 48, the chimp had a colourful life appearing in the famous PG Tips adverts which ran from the 1960s to 1980s.

The chimp first came to attention of zoo keepers at Twycross in Leicestershire after he was rescued from poachers in Liberia by a British couple.

Her caretakers say she was known for her gentle nature.

In 2014, the zoo said the decision to promote the apes on television had been wrong and that the animals were affected as result.

Last January, Choppers returned to the small screen in a Channel 5 documentary charting the story of the lives of the original PG Tips chimps.

“Choppers was a much-loved member of Twycross Zoo’s chimpanzee group and she will be sadly missed by all staff at the zoo, as well as her numerous fans.”

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– TWYCROSS ZOO