I thought that today I’d talk about the chimps’ human vs. non-human relationships and their personal preferences. Avid blog followers often hear us use the phrase “chimps chimp.” We use this phrase to explain a chimp like Missy. For example, though Missy does have human relationships, she seems to prefer to be surrounded by her chimpanzee friends (which we love). While other chimps, like Burrito, specifically seek out their caregivers for many interactions.
It is important to acknowledge that every chimp has a different background. While some of the chimps were raised in labs, others started their lives as pets. Those like Jamie and Burrito, who were owned by humans, tend to be more human-oriented. Despite this, we always want to encourage the chimp’s relationships first. For example, if we walk out to a greenhouse and see all the chimps grooming, we will walk away and come back another time, so we don’t disturb the grooming session. Again, there are a lot of different factors that go into why chimps choose who they want for their company. The special thing about sanctuary is that the chimps are provided with as much choice as we can possibly provide, and choosing who they want to spend time with is one of them!
Jamie:
I think it will come as no surprise that Jamie is more human-oriented. Jamie does have close relationships with her group-mates, especially Burrito, but she is often looking for a caregiver to go on a perimeter walk with.
Missy:
Missy, like I have mentioned before, is more of a chimps-chimp. Missy is the closest to Annie, but she does seem to have strong relationships with everyone in the group. Missy does seek out caregivers every once in a while for a game of chase or tug-a-war, even some grooming! When Missy does seek you out for any interaction, it feels like a huge honor that you drop everything for!
Annie:
Annie leans a bit more chimp oriented. Annie’s closest friend is Missy. However, Annie will seek out caregivers sometimes, especially when she has a tool and groom her caregivers toes!
Foxie:
Foxie is a little of both. Foxie does spend a lot of time with her chimp friends, especially Burrito. However, Foxie does really enjoy playing with her caregivers! It usually involves entrusting her caregivers with a doll. As well as us holding an doll, throwing a dolling, or playing troll-ski!
Burrito:
Burrito might be pretty obvious. He is very human-oriented, play all day! Burrito is always looking for a caregiver to play with, especially to run around Young’s Hill with. However, Burrito does have good relationships with his group members and can even get the most serious chimps like Jamie to let out her silly side.
Negra:
Negra is hard to describe. I can’t say she sways one way or the other. She is well respected in her group and has strong relationships with all the chimps, but everything is on her terms and that goes for humans too. She will interact with who she wants when she wants. When she does decide to play with her chimp friends she is rougher than people would expect!
Mave:
Mave would be described as a chimps-chimp. She has always been very invested in her chimp relationships. Mave was a magnet to Dora and it has been that way ever since we integrated the two groups. Mave is still loyal to her friends Honey B and Willy B, but she spends a lot of time on her relationship with Dora. This year in particular I do find Mave seeking a rare game of chase with her caregivers, grooming, or giving more kisses out. So maybe we are growing on her :).
Honey B:
Honey B can be described as leaning towards more human-oriented. However, as her relationships grow in the group of nine, it seems like Honey B does seek out her chimp friends more, which is huge! As a caregiver, that is the hope to provide more social enrichment! However, Honey B also seems to like her alone time, which I can’t blame her for.
Willy B:
Willy B is definitely a chimps-chimp. Though he can be a troublemaker and start drama in the group, Willy B does seem to value his male relationships, especially Cy. Willy B also loves his friend Rayne, who seems to really get him.
Cy:
Cy is interesting because I think he wants to be more human-oriented, but is duty bound in his role as the male leader. Cy is well respected in this group and is seen in a lot of the grooming trains in the greenhouses. Cy really does love seeking out his human caregivers for a game of chase or grooming. Terry might be Cy closest chimp friend.
Gordo:
Gordo is another interesting one! I don’t think we consider Gordo either one. He is more peripheral – watching from the background. Gordo does likes to go out onto the Bray and watch the girls on Jamie’s side. Gordo is usually seen spending time with Dora, Mave, and Terry.
Rayne:
Rayne is a chimps chimp, she is very socially savvy! Rayne has a lot of strong relationships with everyone in her group. However, she does like to spend time with her caregivers grooming or sporadically playing chase.
Lucky:
Lucky seems to be more human-oriented, but with specific humans. She is slow to warm up to most new people. Lucky is known to put new caregivers through a hazing period. She is probably closest to Rayne, but also likes to have a little alone time.
Terry:
Terry seems to be a chimps-chimp, but loooooooves his human caregivers! Terry, like Cy, is often in the grooming trains throughout the day. Terry spends lots of time with all the girls. He is one of the girls 🙂
Dora:
Dora shocked us all! Dora is a chimps-chimp. Dora is now a social butterfly. Everyone wants to spend time with her. She spends a lot of her time with Mave, Honey B, and Gordo who she was closest to when she first arrived. When Dora first came to CSNW, she seemed to be a bit more closed off, but has really seemed to flourish in the group of nine.
Linda C says
Thank you, Kelsi. i must say, not a lot of surprises here, except for maybe Lucky and Cy.
i think I’ve always seen Jamie as being very aware that she doesn’t really fit in perfectly in either world, and making do the best she can.
Gaynell says
Thank you, Kelsi. for that thorough breakdown of each climp’s preferences. Thank goodness they have one each other and all of you kind, loving, human friends too.
Ken Reiter says
very nice read. thank you very much. i really enjoyed reading your thoughts on all the chimpanzees. Beautiful.
thank you, Kelsi.
Nancy Duryea says
Very interesting, Kelsi. Thank you for the cute pictures of each one too. It’s always fun for me to read more about my sweet girl, Honey B. She seems to be on her good behavior lately, is she feeling ok?
Paulette says
:joy:Is she feeling OK?
Marcie says
Thanks for the behavioral traits for each of the chimps. Gordo’s preferences were a little surprising for me but glad to hear he likes watching the girls on Jaime’s side. Bet they like to watch that handsome guy too. Well all the guys are good looking, especially their eyes, Wow.
Eli says
Reading through the old blogs, it amazes me how much Jamie and Burrito’s relationship has grown. Old blogs described them as “frenemies.” Seems like she’s upgraded him from “annoying little brother” to “sidekick!”
Cy always gives me the impression he’d rather be relaxing with his magazines. Being an alpha must be exhausting. Especially when you’re so popular!
Regardless of whether they’re more chimp oriented or human oriented, I can imagine being a part of the chimps’ social circles is a special feeling!
Linda C says
I’ve felt the same, Eli. It’s like with the bites and then the castration, he’s almost “shadowing” her as Boss. And since he doesn’t have crazy daily displays, he was first more easily tolerated, then she began to enjoy his company more.
Susan Kathleen Feeley says
Thank you, Kelsi, for once again taking time out of your busy schedule and taking us through each chimp’s personal preferences regarding “chimp/human”. I guess whichever their preference is ie sweet Annie favouring chimps or Burrito leaning towards humans( no surprise there) all of the chimps have the best of both worlds in that they are loved unconditionally by their human pals and their chimp buddies. A truly informative blog.
Tobin says
I love these photographs of each of the chimpers (the portraits of Neggie, Willy and Cy are especially endearing). It seems fair to say that all of them are chimps’ chimps, and that it how it should be. After all, one look at the cover of Raynie’s book (authored by Jonathan Kozol, one presumes) that she is clutching in her foot provides evidence of where her interest is focused, on a young pan Troglodyte’s navigation of the educational system.
Kathleen says
Thanks so much for breaking down everyone’s relationships within their groups and within their caregiver community. When it was just the Cle Elum 7, it was easier to follow a small group. We could get a good feeling as to who is whose pal who craved human companionship, and who like to hang out alone. But with the group of nine, always changing as they grow within their new surroundings, I had no idea what friendships were blooming outside of the obvious Maura-B.
This was a wonderful post and one I am going to bookmark so I can look back upon to compare as their friendships, bonds, and bravery grows.
Kathleen says
I have to add that I simply adore that photo of Missy! :heartbeat:
Pat says
This was a wonderful post. Great to read about their individual traits. Also lloved seeing a close up of each chimp. Thank you?