The Skipper and the chimp
Bio[]
The Chimp was an African chimpanzee (Pan trogolyte) somehow stranded on the island. It is is not revealed how it ended up on the island as chimpanzees aren't native to the South Pacific island. It is possible it was left there by previous human activity as there are other apes on the island, but this is unrevealed. The Chimp is wildly curious and mischivous, often stealing things which it finds.
Possibly having witnessed the castaways's appearance on the island, the chimp became curious and started invading the Castaway's Supply Hut, carrying off food, their flare gun and other items. While searching for the missing items, Gilligan gets covered in mud, and while swimming in the lagoon, the chimp steals his clothes and leaves him unprotected. When it appears in camp wearing his clothes, the Skipper, influences by his knowledge in island lore and superstition, thinks its Gilligan, and tries to adopt it, but the chimp escapes with his cap and runs into Gilligan covered in branches. Influenced by the Skipper's stories, he thinks the chimp is the Skipper, and when it runs away, he chases after it. Running into the Skipper, they return to camp where The Professor reveals it has the flare gun. Gilligan gets it back, but while gesturing with it, it goes off, blowing up the flares in the Supply Hut and decimating the structure.
Hanging around the camp, Gilligan befriends the chimp, even thinking the others prefer it to him. It's unrevealed as to what happens to it, but likely it returns to the jungle.
Trivia[]
- The chimp in this episode was a female named Judy owned by Ralph Helfer who trained exotic animals for other TV shows, such as "The Beverly Hillbillies.”
- Other apes on the island include Gladys, The Gorilla and The Orangutan, all of which were played by performer Janos Prohaska.
- Judy would sit in Bob Denver’s lap in Behind the Scenes. She would also sit on Alan Hale Jr’s shoulder.