Angel had been a performing chimpanzee who worked in ads, television shows, and personal appearances. She was first owned by a private family, but then sent to a California trainer as she aged. She was living at a compound in the San Bernardino Mountains in California when her trainer became involved in a lawsuit brought against him by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. In a settlement, the trainer agreed to send his three chimpanzees to sanctuaries and wanted Angel to come to the Center for Great Apes since her mother (Daisy) had arrived here a few years earlier from another Hollywood trainer who retired.

When she arrived at the Center, she was nine years old and over 200 pounds. Angel was a very sweet chimpanzee, but needed to lose some weight for her health. After she adjusted to her new environment and finished her quarantine period, we began introductions with other chimpanzees at the sanctuary. She first met little Mowgli and although she is only two and a half years older than Mowgli, she was very motherly to him.

She soon was introduced to Natsu and also to Brooks. Natsu, who had been living with two males, was excited to have a female friend. But since Angel was so large, Brooks (who is two years older than Angel) was at first very intimidated by her. Angel took some advantage of that by often leading the two younger chimpanzees in teasing Brooks.

One frustrating thing was that Angel steadfastly refused to be closed inside a nighthouse. Her trainer told us that he had had the same experience with Angel in California. So, since her arrival in 2006, Angel takes all her blankets every night and makes nests outside in the chute system. We always leave a nighthouse room open for her, and during storms or very cold weather, Angel will go inside the nighthouse for refuge, but will not allow a door to be closed behind her.

Angel is an extremely bright chimpanzee and in spite of refusing to be closed inside a nighthouse, has adjusted well to her life at the sanctuary. She has trimmed down and actively plays with the other chimpanzees in her group.