Max was born in Burundi in 1988 and spent his early years with a French film crew from whom he was confiscated in 1990. Upon arrival at Sweetwaters sanctuary, he was in poor physical condition and was nervous and aggressive. Max was one of the first to call Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary home and spent his first few months there forming a close bond to the night watchmen with whom he found solace; Even now Max finds comfort in seeing the men in uniforms.

Despite his playful tantrums, Max is a natural performer who will charm you with his antics, even if his naughty streak can sometimes lead to sticky situations. At 36, Max now loves to spend his days exploring the sanctuary’s enrichment structures and indulging in his favourite treats of honey and jam alongside Socrates, a fellow Burundi native resident at Sweetwaters.

The chimpanzees at Sweetwaters can never be reintroduced to the wild and therefore need ongoing support. It costs us US$5,000 a year to look after one chimpanzee!