Testosterone is a funny thing. We tend to think of it as being responsible for the aggressive and antisocial behavior displayed by males, and in a way this is true. But it’s only part of the story. While testosterone appears to be central to status-seeking, it also correlates with prosocial behaviors such as generosity when such behaviors are appropriate for achieving or maintaining status. There’s more than one way to get ahead and testosterone doesn’t seem to care how you get there as long as you get there.
But testosterone never seemed to be on Burrito’s side. Not surprising, given that he never had the opportunity to learn prosocial behavior from either his mother or a community. He was raised by humans, forced to perform in a circus, and then locked alone in a cage for years. His first experience in a real social group likely came at age 23 when he was housed with six females in a series of four cages in a windowless basement. As a result, his attempts at dominance were marked by spasms of unprovoked aggression with few attempts to form alliances or coalitions. If they could, the girls would tell you he was hard to live with. They certainly told him often – by ganging up on him and putting him back in his place.
We can’t put the blame squarely on testosterone for Burrito’s struggles but we can now see what his life is like when not subjected to its constant demands. Because when Burrito suffered a serious injury to his scrotum last winter, he was surgically castrated. You’d have to squint pretty hard to see a silver lining in such an outcome, but there’s no doubt that his relationships with the other chimps are different now. He threatens and fights less. He plays more. A lot more. He plays all day long.
Would a change like this be as benign or even welcome if he lived in a different social group? If he lived with other males? Probably not. This is by no means an argument for castrating male chimps to control aggression (for so many reasons, but as mentioned above – testosterone does more than promote aggression). I’ve hesitated to even talk about it for fear of being misinterpreted (and, to be honest, for fear of getting too far out of my expertise, for I am not an endocrinologist). But we can all see the changes in him, and you probably have too.
For her part, Jamie has mellowed quite a bit too. Could it also be due to hormonal changes? After all, she’s on medroxyprogesterone to inhibit her estrus cycle in an effort to reduce discomfort associated with a perianal fistula. Who knows. We all change as we get older.
Whatever the cause, these two were never very close in the first 13 years they lived at the sanctuary and now there seems to be more space for them to form a relationship. It’s cute to watch Burrito work his charm on Jamie. She’s not one to let her guard down very often. But he can be very persuasive.
That second paragraph serves as a (useful) reminder as to how brutal our kinship with our simian cousins has been. I knew that Burrito had been stolen from his mother and exploited as “entertainment” until, like all other performing chimpanzees, he became too big to control. No longer exploitable (or, perhaps, “cute” in the greeting-card manner), he was sentenced to life in a cage. Reading this detail grieves my heart; how could any human primate mistreat Burrito or any of his neighbors in such a way.
And, thus, every day that he climbs up the Twister and looks about, or gets to play in a cardboard box or insists on one of his caregivers or even the Boss to set aside thier duties and play with him is a little victory.
As always, I thank all of you who rescued Burrito and his friends…
Ditto. The sadness, the irony. Sometimes fate deals a good hand.
I feel the exact same way. May the rest of their days be blessed.
well written….
I look forward to the blog – will I be amused by the day’s shenanigans, heart-warmed by the chimps, caregivers, or donors, or will I learn some good chimp-stuff. Today’s post is very interesting. Here’s to friendship – however it forms!
To be forced to live a life that goes against all your natural instincts must place you in a precarious position. The different levels of cruelty are so numerous it is painful to contemplate. Imagine being 25 years of age, the age Burrito was when he came to CSNW (correct?), and trying to make sense of it all. My heart aches thinking about it. But look at Burrito now. He’s simply amazing. Joy-full. It is funny that even Jamie can’t resist his charming silliness. Or maybe after seeing Burrito go through two very scary events Jamie realized she was being a little hard on Burrito and decided she’s very happy he is part of her family after all.
Thanks J.B., a thought provoking post.
PS: Who was up in the chute, turning to hide in the shadows once the Young’s Hill Gang ventured close?
Joy-full is exactly it, Kathleen. I wondered, too, about the chute. I think Honey B? So lanky…
A belated thank you to Linda and Kathleen for your avocado ideas. Nice to meet some fellow cooks on this blog!
Oh, you’re welcome, Betsy! Glad to have helped!
Hi Kathleen – That’s Honey B at the top of the chute. I’m not sure if you can see from the video, but Willy B was at the bottom, keeping a close eye on his girlfriend, Jamie.
Oh no! I totally missed seeing Willy B, thanks for pointing him out. I can see him now. That cracks me up.
Lol, wait, JB….so Jody has her eye on Willy, but Willy lijes Jaime!? Is this a “triangle”? 😀
How wonderful that Jamie seems to be learning to play a bit more, and who better to teach her than our dear Burrito. It really is an unusual and unexpected friendship, but no doubt it’s good for both of them. Another great post JB ….we learn so much more about them from your knowledge and observations.
BTW…..do you weigh the chimps at all, and if so who is the biggest to the smallest. I assume it’s part of keeping them healthy to know their weight and I thought about it again when Willy B leapfrogged into Mave while waiting for his birthday treat of mango.
I know Foxie is called “Tiny”, and Missy is compact, but solid. And that they want Burrito to put on more weight too . Maybe they judge it by eyesight? Watch the rib cage when they’re lying down? I know they get weighed when there’s surgery
Hi Carol – Yes, we weigh the chimps using a digital scale built into a bench in the greenhouse (and we’re working on adding a scale/bench to the new building). Foxie and Missy each weigh in at around 100 lbs. Negra is the heaviest of the Seven at around 140 lbs. But Mave and Willy B dwarf the Seven. Willy B weighs around 175 lbs.
We try to routinely weigh the chimps so that we can adjust portion sizes as needed but perhaps more importantly so that we can accurately dose drugs such as anesthetics. For some, there is a fine line between too little and too much.
Thank you so much JB. It’s sometimes hard to tell how their sizes stack up when they’re in a heap, but Willy B is one big boy! No wonder Mave screamed at him.
Hi JB!
So glad you wrote this, because I have been thinking this, and am so glad someone with more knowledge of chimps in general and these particular chimpy people confirmed it.
That wasn’t just a play session, that lasted all dang day! She even snubbed her “J Crew” buddy! Amazing!
The Boss DOES need to work on her scarf-tug massage technique a bit, though. She’ll get it.
On the patrol, was Bubba carrying something in his foot? He seemed to be walking funny or almost limping with his left foot
Burrito and Foxie each suffer from arthritis. The change in Burrito’s gate is more prominent when he walks downhill. We’ve been tinkering with analgesics and anti-inflammatories to help them move more freely with less pain.
Thanks, JB. I knew Foxie had it, but not Burrito. Yes, it is on the downhill that it hurts more (says my torn meniscus)
I noticed that too Linda, it seems to me that he puts his left rear leg more forward than the right…it looks a bit like a limp…, or he might carry something in one foot which makes for his gate.
Even some of us who are given all the gifts of a loving family, good nutrition, and safe society struggle to socialize. So much harder when you are deprived of those things for so long. Whatever the cause of Burrito’s new-found contentment, it’s wonderful to know that he has found a place where his ever-evolving personality can be nurtured. Thank you all for that.
Observing and living with animals is not hard science, we as humans have to be intuitive and it delights me to see how well loved the chimps are. How far they come when given space, choice and less pressure than performance and lab settings gave them. They have forgiven at some level, and are moving ahead to enjoy Young’s Hill – it delights me to see how fit and strong they are! May the 3 also discover the joy of space with no roof.
On the light side…
Of course my Valentine was bound to win her over eventually! He’s just so darn lovable!
As are all of you. The love you show and express is boundless. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do and for sharing it with me. I love you.
I don’t know if my previous comment was received (was anyone’s?), but, once again, I am reminded of how brutal some human primates treated some of our simian cousins. It grieves my heart to know of Burrito’s past life.
Yay! I finally noticed your blurb on YT about coming here to make comments. I know YT can be an awful place and people can be cruel. These chimps are so very lucky to have been rescued from the hell of their lives before coming to live here with you. People who truly love and care for them. I’m super impressed with their outdoor enclosure! That is amazing and it looks like a lot of fun. You sure do make sure they have plenty to play with and to explore. They’re incredible animals. I really enjoy all of your videos.