Last week, I witnessed an intimate grooming session between an unlikely pair – Jamie and Burrito.
We’ve written many times on this blog about the importance of social grooming among chimpanzees. Jamie is a bit unusual, well, in many ways, but in particular with grooming. She is not seen grooming the other chimpanzees very often, and they are not often seen grooming her. This is all the more unusual because of her boss (or maybe the more appropriate term is “bossy”) status within the group.
Her relationship with Burrito is not a close friendship. I describe Jamie as treating Burrito like an annoying little brother. They do hang out together, and sometimes groom each other, but usually not for long periods of time.
Jamie is most interested in the human activity around the chimp house, and she likes to groom her human caregivers, though she doesn’t usually request that we groom her in exchange. So, when I think of Jamie engaged in social grooming, this is what I picture:
Last week, however, this is what I witnessed:
(Jamie on the left and Burrito on the right)
This went on for quite a long time. I’m not sure how long because, after taking several photos, I decided to quietly depart the area and leave them to their grooming.
Being a removed observer of these moments between the chimpanzees, when they are wholly engaged in their interactions with each other and do not care whatsoever what I am doing, is what makes me most happy as a sanctuary caregiver.
I imagine that grooming has a functional reasoning that is probably to remove bugs etc? Is this an inborn thing or is it a learned behaviour? Does it come naturally to these guys? And do they tend to accumulate bugs, being mostly indoors? I notice you guys don’t use your fingers to touch them or let them touch you…. i imagine for safety. But do you think they would be aggressive in that manor or just not know their strength when your fingers interract?
I’m so curious about these guys! We went down to visit you guys last summer (from BC) but just before the tour started, there was a brush fire! Glad everything turned out okay with that but was a bummer that we couldn’t see these guys. We are coming down late May but i think you aren’t doing any tours until summer?
Thanks for the question, Heather! Grooming does serve a hygienic function by the groomer removing debris, etc. It is a very instinctual behavior in chimpanzees, but there are certainly learned components to it, and different societies of chimpanzees have show culturally-specific grooming behaviors.
Because the chimpanzees groom themselves and one other everyday, even in this group of captive chimps, actual bugs don’t stand much of a chance of making a home on a chimp.
There’s always the risk of chimpanzees being aggressive, even to those humans are closest to them. We respect their strength, their nature as wild primates, and their strong teeth and jaws.
I’m so sorry your visit was cut off because of the fire – that was a crazy day. You’re right, we are not doing any visits in May.
Thanks again for your interest, Heather!
Making up for lost time~~ seems like a thorough grooming and Burrito looks happy enuf to have this personal service!! Hugs to you all!
I was totally unaware about Jamie not engaging in grooming with the other chimps and somehow this information made me feel sad. Sad that, for some reason we will never know, Jamie does not feel comfortable enough to do what should be natural to her. (?) I also didn’t know that Jamie and Burrito were not the best of friends, but at the same time I get the whole “annoying little brother” thing from Jamie’s point of view. Jamie is so smart. These photos are especially touching to see after learning all of this information. Maybe this session will set a new stage for the two of them to build upon.
I can’t help but think about who they would be if they had been allowed to live a natural wild life. For now, knowing they can tap into their inner natural, wild instincts, is the best we can hope for. Who knew one grooming session could be so significant!
Fascinating post, thanks Diana. (Love the photos too!)
Thanks, Kathleen! I wouldn’t describe Jamie as feeling uncomfortable grooming other chimpanzees, but she does prefer humans to be her grooming partners – I view it as more of a choice. Perhaps this is because of her early life when she was surrounded by humans but probably did not have much interaction with other chimpanzees. It is sad There’s so much that is unnatural about her life and the lives of all of the chimpanzees. Thoughts about this prompted this blog post a few years ago that you might appreciate: https://chimpsnw.org/2012/02/what-is-natural/
Touching post especially in view of all you wrote and what wonderful photos. This will undoubtedly be among my “favorites” as was the video a while back on their use of TOOLS.
Thank you, Elaine!
So interesting and touching emotionally. Thanks as always!
Thank you for reading and following, Nancy!
Perhaps Burrito was in need of a thorough groom and Jamie, being the bossy boss, took it upon herself to fix the situation. In the first couple of photos, I thought she was looking a bit uncomfortable but then she seems to relax. Whatever the reason, it will be interesting to see if such an intimate precedent-setting interaction will change the dynamics. I am sure you will be watchful when observing the gang.