There is no denying that Burrito is one of the sweetest guys around. I mean, just look at this face. When he wants to play with us he will often try to pass toys or scarves through the caging for us. The other day he happened to pull up a flower and hand it to me and then offered me a kiss. Now he may or may not have been just grabbing what was in reach, but nevertheless, my heart melted. And there are the raucous games of chase and tug of war. During one particularly spirited game the other day he started laughing so hard he fell over backwards! Which, of course, made me laugh so hard I had tears coming down my face.
But just like all of us, Burrito has many sides to his personality. When we open the door to the chimp area in the morning he typically displays loudly and vigorously, rattling the caging, charging through the playroom clapping, throwing things, and pant hooting at the top of his lungs, getting all the ladies stirred up. He has also been known to bang relentlessly on the caging throughout meal time, and upon occasion, will even try to poke us as we are serving none other than the Boss, Jamie. Mind you, we are the ones who get in trouble from Jamie for this. And with me being one of the newest staff members here at CSNW he also likes to let me know his opinion of my new ability to move and unlock doors. There have been many a morning that as I am opening or closing doors in the chimpanzee areas that he climbs up the caging directly in front of me, bangs, and spits water (with excellent aim I might add) right in my eye. I know, who could believe such stories of this sweet man chimp? But all of this is normal, healthy, male chimpanzee behavior. Burrito is reminding me that this is his home and that just because I have the keys does not mean I am in charge. It means that he feels safe and secure enough to claim this as his territory. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Maybe I missed it but I remember before Burrito would ‘stifle’ his laugh by biting on something? But now he laughs out loud? AWESOME!!!
This guy has been a complete gentleman to me…Thank goodness as he can be very intimidating at times. He is the one person who is the quickest to laugh at us and is always ready for a good game, except in the mornings when he is being “Mr.B” with all his noise and bravado.
I know another Chimp, well knew, he’s passed now but his name was Hondo and he was the alpha male at the North Carolina Zoo I volunteered at. His “special” type of displaying was thought to be funny by the care givers as Hondo charged at me and slammed up against the plexiglass window! Little did they know that it wouldn’t scare me and I stood my ground with Hondo who then turned into this gentle man baby. I bet Burrito thinks it’s a game just like Hondo did.
Hi Cody,
Yes, sometimes chimpanzee displays can appear funny. And sometimes they are very intimidating. But this is a natural, healthy behavior for chimpanzees and a serious thing to them. Our philosophy here at the sanctuary is that we would never want to discourage this behavior and we respect that it’s important to them. We demonstrate this by mimicking chimpanzee behaviors in response to their displays such as making ourselves “smaller” (bending over or crouching down), nodding our heads, or offering a bent wrist.
I remember a very VERY good post with a video of this very thing. Does it increase their confidence when thecare givers respond that way? Can u remind me how that video was posted?
Kerri,
This may be the post you are thinking about: https://chimpsnw.org/2013/01/jamie-and-her-barrel/
JB gives some great information about displays in the comments as well.
There is also this great post by Elizabeth: https://chimpsnw.org/2013/01/making-some-noise/
And here is an older post by Jackie that shows examples of how caregivers use chimpanzee behaviors and gestures to communicate: https://chimpsnw.org/2009/12/caregivers-use-of-chimpanzee-behaviors/
Awww how sweet Katelyn. Sounds like Burrito was after your heart with a flower and a kiss, and it worked!
What a sweet face in the above photo. He looks so innocent, as if to say, “who-me”?!
Thanks for the wonderful and informative post of my fave little chimp man,Burrito, Twas a time not long ago when he was shy,timid,afraid, uncertain, and he required so much re assurance, for the ladies, but NOW, look at em.I say, Good for you,Burrito.. He truly has changed in to a very well adjusted chimp.. His self confidence certainly does shine through,,Thank you to all caregivers for GIVING Burrito the love and care he needed to overcome much of what the labs stole from him.. life for Burrito is remarkable,
Oh Katelyn, What a delightful way of describing your day with Burrito and his growth over the years. It is so heart warming to hear. He is a remarkable young man and I think he has stolen everyone’s heart he has come in contact with, certainly mine!
Well, that’s a unique job description: “willing to withstand strong displays of dominance, banging, cage rattling, and having water spit in your eye.”
Then again, I guess seeing a chimp laugh so hard they fall over would make that all worth while. 🙂
Yes, Sara, I can honestly say it’s always an honor just to be in their presence (even when being in their presence presents certain challenges!).
Thank you for the info!
I am curious what you mean by you get in to trouble by Jamie when Burrito pokes at you. Is that because she “should” be the one doing it? Complex does not even begin to explain chimp politics, I lOVE it and cant get enough of it.
Kerri,
Yes, chimpanzees are highly complex and fascinating! Hierarchy is a serious aspect of chimpanzee society and while we as caregivers get to be part of that, we are definitely at the bottom. We can never know exactly what the chimps are thinking, but often if we do something that upsets one of them, the others will respond in a way that suggests they “have their friends back” so to speak. For example, when someone pokes at one of us for whatever reason and then threat barks, often the other chimps will threat bark or bang on the caging at us as well because we’ve upset their friend. That said, I have also had times when one of the chimps is upset with me and maybe spits water in my face only to have one of the other chimps offer me reassurance.