Life in a chimpanzee troop – both in a zoo and in the wild – is complex, emotional, and guided by strong social bonds and clear leadership. These relationships help keep the troop safe, connected, and thriving, but they can also involve moments of correction and discipline as individuals learn how to navigate their social structure.
Recently, two-year-old Alizeti was injured during an altercation with Moshi, the troop’s alpha male. Her story offers an important opportunity to better understand chimpanzee behavior, as well as the care she is receiving as she recovers.
The incident occurred on a morning when Alizeti was reluctant to come out into the shared space with the rest of the group. In chimpanzee society, togetherness is not just social – it’s a matter of safety. When a member of the troop is separated, the alpha male cannot adequately protect everyone.
After several attempts to coax Alizeti to join the group, Moshi stepped in as the disciplinarian and physically moved her into the habitat with the rest of the troop. This behavior, while difficult for us to witness, is a normal part of chimpanzee social dynamics. An alpha male’s primary role is to keep the troop safe, and at times that requires him to be firm – even heavy-handed.
Unfortunately, Alizeti sustained an injury to her foot and lost her two front teeth during the interaction. The animal care team acted immediately, separating her from Moshi and providing medical attention.
Her foot injury required amputation of a toe and reconstructive surgery. A specialty surgical team from Advanced Orthopaedic Associates, Thrive Reconstructive Surgery, and Wesley Medical Center – Zach Hanson, MD; Matthew Louis, MD; Chad Corrigan, MD; Abby Mercado, CRNP; Emily McKenna, RN; and April Gulley – joined the Sedgwick County Zoo veterinary staff to perform the procedure at the Zoo’s Oliver Animal Hospital.
During surgery, her teeth were evaluated and treated by Dr. Doug Winter, a board-certified veterinary dentist with Midwest Animal Dental & Oral Surgery Services. Fortunately, there was no catastrophic root damage, and her adult teeth are expected to grow in normally.
Alizeti has a strong prognosis and is expected to regain full use of her foot. She will spend several weeks behind the scenes with Bea while she heals, where she’ll receive attentive care, enrichment, and monitoring from her care team.
Q&A
Is Moshi an aggressive Alpha male?
Moshi is generally calm and even-tempered – known by the care team as the “peacekeeper.” This incident does not reflect aggression outside of normal chimpanzee behavior, even for an alpha like Moshi. While these moments can be hard to understand through a human lens, they are part of the natural social structure that helps chimpanzee groups function and stay safe.
Why was Alizeti with Moshi if this kind of thing could happen?
This kind of interaction is simply a fact of natural chimpanzee dynamics. Healthy chimpanzee troops thrive with babies in the group, and Moshi has never given any indication that he would intentionally hurt a young member of his group. Over the past few months, keepers have worked to integrate Alizeti into her troop, through playdates, one-on-ones and full group integrations – guided by the social cues of each member of the group. Alizeti and Moshi have been sharing space in a fission/fusion model since June 2025, and he has always been patient, respectful, and even playful.
Has Moshi ever been around other baby chimps?
Moshi has had the opportunity to be around many other babies, but this is his first experience with one that does not have a traditional mother.
Where was Alizeti’s mom during the incident?
Alizeti’s social standing in the troop is unique due to the fact that she is being raised by a foster mother. Bea does an amazing job of providing Alizeti with the maternal care she requires, however because that relationship is a bit different from a traditional mother and offspring, she attempted to intervene, but was ineffective. Bea is very close socially to Moshi, and we suspect her relationship and respect for the alpha may have influenced her response.
Will Alizeti be reintroduced to the troop?
The goal will always be to do what’s best for the troop as well as each individual chimp. There are cases of certain chimps not being suited well for one another, but it’s much too soon to know if that is the case here. Our dedicated team will continue to observe behaviors and listen to the social cues from each chimp to make decisions about the future of the troop.
Will Alizeti be okay?
Alizeti is resilient, strong-willed, and expected to make a full recovery. The surgeons successfully amputated the fourth digit on her right foot, and reconstructed the tendons in an effort to maintain function of the pinky toe. She will be reevaluated once she is fully healed and the cast is removed, but we are optimistic that she will have full function of her foot in the future.
When can guests see Alizeti again?
Alizeti is behind the scenes where the care team can keep a very close eye on her and together with Bea they’re making sure she receives lots of TLC. She will remain there for at least six to eight weeks while she recovers from surgery.
Why was Alizeti reluctant to come out with the rest of the troop?
Alizeti is very independent and likes to do things on her own time. Part of this is just her personality, and another part is likely because of her unique experience as a human-assisted and fostered chimp.
When will her adult teeth come in?
Chimps usually lose baby teeth and get adult teeth around four to five years of age. Alizeti will be missing her two front teeth for a couple of years.
Why couldn’t the Zoo’s veterinarians treat Alizeti?
For the same reason humans are referred to specialized doctors for advanced care, Alizeti’s case required a team with expertise in this area. Our veterinarians would have been able to treat the wound and help her heal, but by bringing in orthopedic specialists, we are able to give her the very best chance of maintaining full function of her foot. Alizeti’s well-being is the utmost priority and we are grateful that these generous partners were willing to donate their services, time, and specialty equipment to treat her.
How can guests help or support Alizeti?
The best way to help is by visiting the Zoo, sharing accurate information, and understanding that any animal’s care decisions are always made with their wellbeing in mind. Compassion, patience, and trust in professional animal care teams truly make a difference.