SUE ELLEN
March 17, 1967 - January 16, 2026
With great sadness we share with you the passing of Sue Ellen on January 16, 2026. She was 58 years old. She died peacefully surrounded by her family and friends. Sue Ellen is an incredible story of resilience. Despite many physical challenges and personal losses, she lived a very long life and had dear friends. She will be deeply missed by all those who know her. Sue loved to wear necklaces and scarves, and hula hoops around her waist, like a tutu. Over this last holiday season she carried shiny wrapping paper around for days. These are a sad reminder of her days as a young chimp when she was in the circus. When her entertainment days were over, she walked into LEMSIP, the Laboratory for Experimental and Medical Surgery in Primates. There she was infected with HIV and used in hard core research for 15 years. Sue arrived at LEMSIP with and moved to Fauna Foundation with Billy Jo. Together they were in the circus, endured research, and found sanctuary. Her best friends at Fauna were Donna Rae and Pepper (We encourage you to further explore this story in The Legends of Fauna Vol. 1).
Sue was one of the first chimpanzees introduced to Tatu and Loulis. She gracefully became friends with these two who use American Sign Language and arrived at Fauna in 2013 (We encourage you to further explore this story in The Legends of Fauna Vol. 2). She also became good friends with Blackie and Dolly and for a time they were the elderly ladies group.
Sue Ellen walked for years with a limp, but this became severe in 2018. She spent years patiently rehabbing so that she was able to get around by walking again. This last summer she became diabetic and once again was patient and willing to cooperate with her caregivers for blood glucose testing and insulin injections. This is a testament to her willingness to trust humans, after they had sent her to a lab and years in biomedical testing filled with jabs, pokes, and procedures.
We will miss her pant hoot announcements of the arrival of a good friend and her watchful eye on men who did their work to keep Fauna facilities functioning. All the humans at Fauna will miss the friendship we gained in Sue Ellen. Most of all Binky, Tatu, and Loulis will miss a dear friend, and their matriarch. Peace now Sue Ellen.
