Missy had a little scare on the hill this morning. Sometimes the chimps get spooked and we don’t know what caused it. None of the other chimps seemed to care, so I doubt it was anything truly threatening. Plus, when it is a snake or some other potentially dangerous animal, the chimps tend to stick around and alarm call instead of high-tailing it for the greenhouse. If it’s a serious threat, I think they want to keep track of its whereabouts and alert everyone else to the danger.
It gives me goosebumps to see the chimps traveling up Young’s Hill as a troop. It’s like a little glimpse of what could have been if they had not been born into captivity or stolen from their families in the wild.
This video, by the way, shows Burrito walking to the log bridge at the top of the hill, which as far as I know is the farthest he’s ever been. He’s at the back of the line in the video – if we’re feeling generous, we might say that he is guarding the troop from the rear. In reality, at this point I think he’s happy to let the five girls ahead of him deal with any threats they might encounter along the way. But give him time – we see him get more confident each day out there.
Michelle Chambless says
She didn’t get stung by a bee did she?
J.B. says
She wasn’t tending to any injury afterwards, so it’s doubtful. Chimpanzees have a high tolerance for pain and can hide serious illness and injuries, but when they get a splinter or a bee sting they want everyone to know about it 🙂
Doreen says
Michelle – I was thinking the same thing? A Bee perhaps? I LOVE the HUG at the end of the Clip. They really are so Bonded!
Sara L., Fairfax, VA says
That was so sweet, everyone giving Missy comfort for whatever it was that scared her. They’re such a little family – and you all give them the chance to experience what life should have been like for them, even if it’s just a little bit. (I too love seeing them all on the hill – freedom is a beautiful thing.)
Marsha says
Thank-you for sharing – how precious that they comfort one another.
roberta herman says
Love that hug!
Cassy says
Did Jamie have anything to say about this? Did Negra venture out? It was wonderful to see them all out together, agreed. Hope Missy has recovered from the trama today and loved the hugs.
J.B. says
Jamie walked back to the greenhouse with everyone else, but she didn’t seem to care much about the situation. Negra was not out with the group at the time this video was taken but she did go out for about 45 minutes afterwards.
Cassy says
wonderful! thank you for sharing.
Marcia Douthwaite says
Missy certainly looked worried, stopping several times to look back. Love that hug she got when they were inside. Thanks, JB.
Rita Stevenson says
Prior to Cle Elum, did the 7 EVER spend ANY time with another outside of the cages, Were they in a same group as on eon one as they live now, Or did they all live in those cruel cages untill they arrived and only knew each other from life within beind caged,,
either way, they certainly have formed SUCH tight relationships.Annie and Missy totally LOVE and support eachother, Their friendship is on eof such strength,devotion,love,care,loyalty and FUN.
Im very interested in knowing their stories, from CSNW perspective, because you all are privledged to care for them and watch them change and heal,,as time passes, from one year to the next.
J.B. says
In their last two years at the Buckshire Corporation, these seven chimps did live together as a group. They were housed in a row of interconnected cages in a basement and for those final years, the doors between the cages were left open to let them be together as a group.
Rita Stevenson says
Thank you ,JB, great to know,
Candy (Tyler, TX) says
I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since they went out on Young’s Hill. J.B., I got goosebumps too. I would love to have seen this from above
QUESTION: If they were in the wild, and walking in troop formation, how would it have been handled if a chimp raised an alarm, like Missy did?
J.B. says
My guess is that they would have reacted similarly, though it’s impossible to say because of the number of factors that would influence the group’s behavior (e.g. the setting, the caller’s past behavior, recent social interactions within the group, etc.). In this case, Missy’s vocalizations were more a sign of personal distress. An alarm call, on the other hand, is a clear and distinct vocalization that warns others of a potential threat. When a chimpanzee issues an alarm call, the other chimpanzees will immediately pay attention and observe the caller’s behavior for indications of the source and severity of the threat.
Here is an example of some alarm calls mixed with threat barks, which you can compare to Missy’s screams: https://chimpsnw.org/2010/09/intruder/. Alarm calls and threat barks are more staccato in nature, whereas distress screams are more drawn out. Chimpanzees will usually pay attention to a scream, but chimpanzee social life is rife with melodrama and some chimpanzees scream because someone else looked at them the wrong way. So sometimes a scream elicits only a casual interest from the other chimps. An alarm call or threat bark, on the other hand, is sure to get everyone’s attention immediately.
Humans who work with chimps begin to respond to these calls without thinking about it. If we hear an alarm call from only one chimpanzee and the calls are spaced far apart, it’s probably an indication that Negra or someone else saw a cow or a horse in an area where they usually wouldn’t be. But if we hear multiple, high-pitched calls in greater frequency, then we might reach for the snake capture kit.
Chris says
This was amazing to watch and yes, it really did look like “normal” chimp behavior in the wild… the traveling together in troop formation through the tall grasses with the one leading up the rear…Burrito…constantly looking over his shoulder and of course how they all…well, most all of them…reassuring Missy! Just wonderful!!
Jordan Bower says
This video gave me chills…….wonderful to see the chimps travelling up the hill in a group, hearing the birds chirping in the background and seeing the wind through their hair…
When Missy is running back to the greenhouse – is she looking back to keep track of whatever it was that scared her and/or to see if her family is close behind?
Also, I feel badly for not knowing for sure, is it Annie that hugs her at the greenhouse entrance?
J.B. says
Missy has exhibited this “looking back” behavior as long as we have known her. In this case, I think your assessment is accurate – she’s probably keeping an eye out for trouble and seeing who’s coming back with her. But she also does this when she is not overtly distressed. For example, when we invite the chimps to move into a different part of the building so that we can lock things down for cleaning, Missy will often sit in the doorway and look behind her for something. Sometimes she will do this for five minutes or more, and then finally she will commit to leaving that area and she won’t look back again. And when Missy is casually jogging down the hill with a mouthful of grass that she just picked, she will stop periodically to check behind her like she does in this video. There’s never anything there that we can see.
This is one of those things that could very well be related to her traumatic past – perhaps it is a symptom of PTSD. But chimps have quirks just like we humans do, so I am always hesitant to explain away all of their odd behavior by blaming it on their past. Maybe Missy is just weird like the rest of us 🙂
You’re right – it is Annie that hugs Missy in the doorway. Don’t feel bad about feeling unsure – it takes our new staff and volunteers a while to get to know the chimps, and they get to see them in person!
Jordan Bower says
Thank you for your thoughtful reply J.B. And, yes – I think that they are all quirky and weird like us. Or at least I hope that that is more what it is than PTSD.
Thank you again.