It has been a little over a year since Cy’s group got merged into Willy B’s group to form a group of nine chimpanzees. The process of introductions is complex, and the exact moment that a group is considered successfully integrated remains a bit murky in the literature. It’s just hard to know! At the moment, the group continues to get to know each other on an individual way. We have probably mentioned in the past that for Willy B, the integration process has tested his ability to get along with his group mates. He could often be heard displaying at all hours of the night and day until someone in the group lost their patience, which would trigger bouts of chase and displaying. I sometimes see him as a chimp that is just a tad “misunderstood” and doesn’t quite get social ques that help him navigate social dynamics. With time Willy B has calmed down during the nights, and his daytime routine, although predictable, seems to be less triggering for his group mates. In general, and at the risk of completely jinxing this, his group seems to be more accepting and patient of his “outbursts”.
Because of all of that, I feel super proud of Willy B whenever I catch him having long and positive interactions with members of the group. Specially when it is with another male. On today’s video, Willy B and Terry share a very long play session across all three front rooms that in reality lasted over 20 minutes. Their breathy pants, tickles, and foot grabs are enough to fill anyone’s life with joy. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
