A few days ago, I saw someone ask on our Facebook page how we can tell the chimpanzees apart from one another. Just like humans, the chimps have their own individual features that make them unique. Today, I wanted to walk you through some ways that I have found that help when identifying our 16 chimpanzee residents!
First identifier, size/build. While it may be hard to determine overall body size in photos, it is easily one of the first things I notice when I see a chimp.
Our males, with the exception of Burrito, are larger than our females. In the photos below, Dora appears smaller than the males she is next to.
Dora (left) and Terry (right):
Dora (left) and Willy B (right):
Gordo (left) and Dora (right):
Burrito is a smaller guy. While he is larger than some of the girls in his group, he is not larger than all. Here he is next to Jamie, who he is smaller than.
Jamie (left) and Burrito (right):
Jamie (left) and Burrito (right):
Missy is smaller in size, although has a very athletic build.
Missy:
Burrito (left) and Missy (right):
Next identifier, hair.
Hair? Yes, hair!
Hair helps identify a chimp quite easily as well. Hair that stands up on their shoulders, on their head, whatever it may be, helps.
Notice here that Willy B’s hair on his shoulder curls upwards into a “horn-like” shape.
Willy B:
Rayne, on the other hand, has thicker hair on the back of her head. Sometimes, the hair on the top of her head is standing upright. But not always!
Here are a few examples:
Rayne (hair sticking up):
Still Rayne but hair down:
Speaking of hair, the hair queen herself… Mave.
Between her freckled face or her thick, fluffy hair, some may find her easily identifiable.
Mave:
But, we have another chimp who also has freckles and thick, fluffy hair. That is Terry!
Terry:
Hair, or lack thereof, also makes a chimp more identifiable.
Negra has some parts of her body with small amounts of hair.
Negra:
Honey B also has thinner hair on her chest and stomach.
Honey B:
Next identifier, eyes and brow ridge.
Jody has beady eyes and a rounded brow ridge.
Jody:
Dora’s eyes also are unique. Her brow ridge is not as defined as Jody’s.
Dora:
I don’t know how to truly describe Honey B’s eyes, but they stare straight into your soul.
Honey B:
Next identifier is ears.
Annie has larger ears that sit high on her head.
Annie:
Negra is missing half of an ear. So is Foxie!
Negra:
Foxie:
Common mix-ups:
A tough pair to tell the difference between: Honey B and Rayne. They have many similarities. They are both lean and tall. They both have a white beard and similar ears. However, Honey B has light-colored lips and Rayne does not. Rayne’s face is overall darker in color, apart from her forehead. Honey B’s eyes are just a tad lighter.
What else do you notice?
Rayne (left) and Honey B (right):
Rayne:
Honey B:
Telling the difference between Willy B and Cy can also be a tough one. They are both large bodied males with hair that sticks straight up, strong brow ridges, and white beards.
What do you notice the differences are?
Cy (left) and Willy B (right):
Willy B (left) and Cy (right):
Willy B (left) and Cy (right):
Cy:
Willy B:
Cy and Lucky, full-siblings, have some similar features. Same white beard, strong brow ridge, same nose, similar eyes. However, Cy is bigger in size and also has more hair standing up-right on the top of his head.
Dora (left), Lucky (center), and Cy (right):
Lucky:
Cy:
