By Amy Wang, The Oregonian
The Oregon Zoo plans Tuesday to celebrate the life of Charlie the chimpanzee, who died unexpectedly Thursday at 39.
A memorial, scheduled for 11 a.m. near the zoo's concert lawn, will include dancers, traditional West African drumming and, at a primate keeper's suggestion, a wishing well, which fits with the African tradition of tossing something of value into a loved one's grave.
Money collected in the well will be donated to the Jane Goodall Institute in Charlie's memory, the zoo said. Goodall once met and admired the charismatic primate, who lived at the zoo since he was about 2, along with the four female chimps remaining in the collection.
The zoo also set up a Web page, www.oregonzoo.org/charlie, where visitors have left messages, such as this, from someone named Amanda in Richland, Wash.: "... I've watched him tenderly interact with others, and fiercely defend, and just lay contentedly, and always been intrigued by his grace and the wisdom in his eyes. I know I'm not alone ... Charlie will be missed by many."
The zoo, just off U.S. 26, opens at 9 a.m. daily. Admission costs $7.50 to $10.50, with a $1.50 discount for those who travel there on MAX.
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