While volunteers Chelsea, Erin, and Kailie were finishing up the big clean of the playroom today, I went in search of some chimpanzees.
I found all seven of them on the “top bunk” of the structure in the greenhouse. I was able to watch them for twenty minutes or so as they rested and groomed. There were frequent switches of grooming partners, with everyone receiving and giving attention at various times and then sitting quietly grooming themselves or dozing off.
It’s incredibly heartening to witness this rag-tag bunch interacting like a true chimpanzee family group. They definitely don’t always get along (no primates do, if we’re being honest), but these times of togetherness are a big part of who they have become. Even when they were focusing on themselves, they were just inches away from one other.
Here are a few photos of Missy and Jamie:
