Grooming is a positive social behavior in chimpanzees. It helps repair and strengthen relationships (of course it is also great for hygienic purposes). The best spot to groom at the sanctuary has to be in the sunny greenhouse, as caregivers frequently catch “piles” and “trains” of grooming chimpanzees basking together on platforms. Sometimes we can barely tell where one chimpanzee starts and another begins. Just before lunch, this group was caught in a grooming “pile.”
How good are you feeling about your chimpanzee identification skills? Post your ID guesses in the comments!
