• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Hope. Love. Home. Sanctuary

  • Our Family
    • The Chimpanzees
    • The Cattle
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Visiting the Sanctuary
    • Philosophy
      • FAQs
      • Mission, Vision & Goals
      • Privacy Policy
    • The Humans
      • Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Founder
    • Annual Reports
    • The Future of CSNW
    • CSNW In The News
  • You can help
    • Donate
      • Become a Chimpanzee Pal
      • Sponsor A Day
      • Transfer Stock
      • Be A Produce Patron
      • Be a Bovine Buddy
      • Give from your IRA
      • Personalized Stones
      • Bring Them Home Campaign
    • Leave A Legacy
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer
    • See Our Wish List
    • Events
  • Resources
    • About Chimpanzees
    • Enrichment Database
    • Advocacy
      • Apes in Entertainment
        • Trainers
        • Role of the AHA
        • Greeting Cards
      • Chimpanzees as Pets
      • Roadside Zoos
      • Chimpanzees in Biomedical Research
      • Conservation
        • African Apes
        • Orangutans
  • Shop
    • Merchandise Store
  • Contact
  • DONATE NOW

Displaying

November 15, 2009 by Elizabeth

Given that we share around 99% of our DNA, it is not surprising that chimpanzees and humans have much in common. Both species, for example, are very territorial. We might not think of ourselves as territorial creatures, but imagine how you might feel if you looked out your living room window and saw a stranger standing in your front yard peering in at you. Free-living chimpanzee communities will defend their territories, sometimes violently, against intruders from neighboring communities. (Sound familiar?)

One of the ways chimpanzees express their territoriality is through a display. During a display, a chimpanzee stands bipedally (upright); swaggers back and forth; makes a lot of noise by banging or throwing objects; and exhibits pilo-erect hair (hair standing on end). All of these behaviors serve to make the individual appear much bigger and more intimidating than he or she really is.

Defending a territory isn’t the only reason a chimpanzee might display; displays can also be associated with dominance. Jamie, who is the most dominant member of the Cle Elum Seven, displays several times a day. (Although it is almost always male chimpanzees who display in free-living situations, it is not uncommon for females to display — and to be dominant — in captivity.) Jamie displays to defend her home, to exert her dominance, and even, it seems, to alleviate boredom.

Below is a video of one of Jamie’s displays. You’ll notice many of the behaviors I described above. Despite spending the last three decades in the most unnatural and impoverished situations, it seems Jamie has figured out just how to be a chimpanzee.

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin
EnrichmentJamie

Share

Share
Tweet
Share
Pin

Subscribe To the Blog and Get Notified of New Posts First!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Theresa says

    November 15, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    Impressive! Jinga, at Chimp Eden, would display at the other girls when they fought and also at the second ranked male if he was bullying her girls. With her thick hair standing on end she was an impressive sight. I admire their displays myself. It shows how strong and powerful chimps really are. Some people may be disturbed by it but I think they are beautiful in their displays.

  2. Amy M. says

    November 15, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    Wait — you didn’t mention that drumming is part of the display… 😉

  3. Anna says

    November 15, 2009 at 6:17 pm

    Goodness gracious! A sturdy fence between Jamie and the camera in those last few seconds was certainly reassuring …

    And LOL – love the hopping. And the drumming. Noise! Noise! More noise!!!!!

  4. Shari says

    November 17, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    She sure is making a lot of noise to defend her territory. Awesome!

  5. Gayle says

    November 17, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Absolutely amazing! I find their displays fascinating. Not only do you see their pure power but I feel you also see a bit of their personality and style come through.

    I wonder, are the displays always completely different or do the chimps have their special movements that are repeated??

  6. dee says

    November 19, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    thumbs-up to the person whose idea it was to get that barrel in there
    Jamie sure has a mighty impressive display and boy does she got a good rhythm & beat goin’ on there .. move over, respectfully, Mr. Puente.

Previous Post
A new game
Next Post
The new door

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe To the Blog and Get Notified of New Posts First!

Archives

Calendar of Blog Posts

November 2009
S M T W T F S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Oct   Dec »

Categories

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Footer

PO Box 952
Cle Elum, WA 98922
[email protected]
509-699-0728
501c3 registered charity
EIN: 68-0552915

Official DDAF Grantee

Menu

  • The Chimpanzees
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • You can help
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Donate

Proud Member of

Connect With Us

Search

Copyright © 2024 Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest. All Rights Reserved. Site by Vegan Web Design