Daisy was also a wild-caught chimpanzee taken from her mother in Africa and sold to a circus trainer. As an infant, she was used in a Ringling Brothers circus act along with chimpanzees Butch and Chipper. But when the trainer died suddenly, Butch, Chipper, and two other older chimps in the act were sent to a New Mexico biomedical research lab, and infant Daisy was sold to another circus trainer to continue performing. When she was about 9 or 10 years old, she was sold again to a California breeder where she would be bred to produce more infants for the entertainment industry. Her first baby (a female named Angel who now also lives at our sanctuary) was pulled and sold to another Hollywood trainer. Daisy had two more infants, but they died in her care.
Daisy arrived in Wauchula in August 2004 a few days before Hurricane Charley hit the sanctuary. That same year, six young Hollywood chimpanzees (Maggie, Ellie, Bella, Kenuzy, and twins Jonah & Jacob) joined Daisy, and she spent the next three years as the senior member of this group of adolescent chimpanzees.
Daisy has lived with many of our chimpanzees at the sanctuary but her favorite friend was another older former circus performer, Roger. Roger and Daisy formed an instant bond and were well-suited to each other as they enjoyed spending time playing, grooming each other, and peacefully resting together. They remained close companions until Roger passed away from a sudden heart attack in 2012.
