Generally, a chimpanzee’s display involves pant hooting vocalizations, pilo erect hair (hair that stands on end), and it builds up to a dramatic finish. Each chimp seems to have their own preferred method or technique when they display. Burrito often claps his hands as he runs around the enclosure. Jamie usually has a plastic barrel with her to bang on and push around. Sometimes she adds in other enrichment for more impact..
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Glad that Jamie has such a strong display style. She means business!!
Did she display because she was upset or just because she wanted to ??
I recently read “In The Shadow of Man” by Jane Goodall. Jamie reminds me of the chimp (Mike?!) who visited her camp. He would display by banging kerosene cans he found and in doing so became the alpha. He must have appeared very scary and big with that cacophony clatter created from the cans. Even Boss Jamie appears pretty darn “big” pushing that big blue pail (and boot!) about. I wouldn’t mess with her! : ) I am fascinated by chimpanzee displays when I read about them but seeing video of displays is compelling indeed. Thanks for this post Anna!
I just happened to watch that documentary on YouTube about three nights ago. They said he immediately went from the lowest on the hierarchy to the Alpha by figuring out that the clanging noises made him appear to be the smartest (and scariest).
I’ve always been fascinated with their displays. Humans tend to do similar things when we feel threatened or insecure, but Chimps seem to do them for no connected reason–almost like they arise from nothing (I’m sure it’s something to them!).
Anna, do you know anything about the psychological reasons they display and if there are triggers for each one? In all the literature I’ve read and the countless hundreds of hours of videos on them I’ve seen, I haven’t seen much commentary about this–only that they do it.
Thanks.
Hi Carla, each chimpanzee displays for different reasons (and it totally depends on the situation). Sometimes it has to do with wanting to prove to caregivers and visitors how tough they are, sometimes it is part of a response to shifting into a new area. Burrito is often so wound up with energy and testosterone that he needs to just let it all out and run through the enclosure with as much force as possible. For wild chimpanzees, a display serves a more practical purpose, to maintain their dominant status. In captivity, it isn’t always so obvious.
I didn’t even realise there might be a difference in the reasons for displays between wild/habituated groups, or that showing off for humans might be one of them. That’s pretty interesting/cool.
In the beginning when they first arrived, did Burrito ever challenge Jamie for the Alpha position, or did they just always defer to her that way from the start? I wonder if any of that subservient attitude toward her began when they were still back in the cages at the lab?
Thanks for the very speedy reply.
I think their relationship has been relatively consistent.