Gillie and Marc were lucky enough to meet the babies of three of the great ape species, chimps, orangutans and gorillas, in the wild and they were surprised how similar they really are to us. These sweet little babies were just as cheeky as human babies and were very attached to their mums.

Gillie and Marc could see them grasp onto things, the same way that human babies do, testament to our evolutionary past. They also noticed that the hands of gorilla are very similar to human hands, a beautiful reminder that even physically, we are still from the same family.

10 chimpanzees from the hugely successful public art exhibition, Chimps Are Family, are off to Kingston Upon Thames, the next in line to welcome the adorable apes in this interactive sculpture for conservation.

London Bridge opened the public exhibition and has played host since May 2022. The sculpture was met with huge excitement with thousands of people heading down to learn and play with the charismatic crew. Now its Kingston Upon Thames who will take up the care of 10 of the original 18 chimps from late January 2023!

Expertly crafted in everlasting bronze, these beautiful primates that helped to change our understanding of our closest relatives, and even ourselves will now be brought to life in a monumental public art project for conservation, the most important wildlife sculpture on the planet.

For the first time ever all the behaviours of chimpanzees are brought to life like never before. Hugely confronting, it makes the public question who we are and our relationship to the wild, bringing the life of the jungle to the heart of London. Showcasing 10 different chimpanzee behaviours such as laughing, grief, and imitation, the public is given a unique glimpse into the life of a chimp and a greater understanding of our cousins.

They will each show unique personalities with their own back story. The chimps will be waiting ready to invite people to sit beside them, offering a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with our closest relatives. This will be the only chance people will get to touch, feel, cuddle and get up close to a chimp and see how similar they are to us.