The intensity of a snake alarm call is usually proportional to the snake’s size and proximity to the chimps. Basic alarm calls mean a snake has been spotted. Screams mean it is an imminent threat. But you have to recalibrate your understanding of snake calls when Annie is involved because to her, every snake is an imminent threat.
Even if it is a tiny garter snake, taking a nap on a grape vine well outside of the chimps’ greenhouse enclosure.
JB — Do the chimps have different alarm calls for different threats?
Hi Amy – It seems that their alarm vocalizations exist on a continuum (from “soft hoos” to “wraa barks”) and we artificially break them up to label them, just as we do for certain forms of human communication. As far as I know, there isn’t a discrete snake call per se but the chimps use context to extract additional meaning from the vocalization.
Recent research has shown that alarm calls differ depending on whether the chimp wants to signal that they will fight back (barks) or to rally the troops to help in defense (screams). So in case, it would seem that Annie was very intent on gathering support.
Thanks, JB! Fascinating!
Yep! I’m with Annie, all the way!! Love and hugs to you all…
aww. it’s okay, sweet annie. we all have our fears, don’t we? every single one of us. you are so blessed to have so many chimp-people and human-people who love you and will make sure that you’re all okay.
I bet your construction project displaced some snakes too and the old garden makes a perfect new hangout. And I’m with Annie, size isn’t the big issue, a snake is a slithery snake. Eeeeeek!
That is one set of lungs!!