Rockhampton Zoo farewells beloved Cassius

Published on 23 April 2025

It is with immense sadness that Rockhampton Regional Council shares the heartbreaking news of the passing of beloved chimpanzee, Cassius.

Cassie passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon after a rapid decline in health earlier in the week.

Parks, Sport and Public Spaces Councillor Cherie Rutherford said Cassie’s passing will be deeply felt throughout the Zoo and the community.

"This news has shattered our entire zoo family, and the community who have loved Cassius for decades," Cr Rutherford said.

“At the end of March, Rockhampton Zoo shared an update that Cassius had been struggling with arthritis and dementia and zoo staff were working hard to manage his pain.

“We hoped Cassius had more time, however for his comfort and welfare, we had to say goodbye as we loved him too much to let him suffer.”

Cr Rutherford said Cassius, at the age of 53, was the oldest male chimpanzee in Australasia.

“Rockhampton Zoo had been Cass’ home since the 1980s, so many people in Rockhampton have grown up with Cassius, who was a beautiful old soul and captured the hearts of everyone he met,” Cr Rutherford said.

“Zoo-goers have loved Cassius since day one and much of this is because of his playful personality.

“Some chimps can take a while to warm up to people, but Cassie’s personality allowed him to warm to people very quickly, zoo staff and visitors alike.

"I know many of you will be grieving his loss just as we are. I want to thank our community for loving Cass and extend my deepest condolences to our zoo staff during this difficult time, knowing how much Cass meant to you.”

Rockhampton Zoo Director Liz Bellward said it was a privilege for the Zoo to have loved and cared for Cassie for close to 40 years.

“Cassius had the best possible care, and if there's any solace to be found, it's that he wasn't alone when he passed away,” Ms Bellward said.

“Despite the best efforts of our dedicated vet team, we made the compassionate decision to let Cass go to prevent further suffering.

"He lived a long, remarkable life and we felt incredibly lucky to care for him - his warmth and engagement with both staff and visitors made him truly unforgettable.

“He was also a strong yet gentle member of the troop throughout his time here, always accepting of new members.

"The troop will undoubtedly feel this loss as they all had a strong bond with Cassie. We will be closely observing the troop in the coming weeks to support them.

"I want to extend my sincere thanks to our dedicated staff and veterinary teams for their unwavering commitment and professionalism during this difficult time.”

Cassius, who was born in Coolangatta in 1971, has called the Rockhampton Zoo home for the past 39 years. He was brought to the local area with his brother Ockie in 1986. The brothers remained together until Ockie sadly passed away in 2013.

A memorial will be held for the public to pay their respects in the coming week. More details will be available on Rockhampton Zoo’s Facebook page.