We often describe Rayne as being socially savvy. She seems to have a special ability to understand the needs of her group mates—in particular, to recognize their limitations and vulnerabilities and adjust to them. This is especially evident in her interactions with Willy B but it’s true of all of her relationships to varying degrees. Rayne was the first to be added to the reintroduction group after Cy and Willy B’s week together in part because of this skill.
I share the video below to give you a sense of what this kind of social intelligence looks like in practice. I want to make it clear that interpreting chimp behavior is always a fraught exercise. We simply can’t get in their heads and thus I really don’t know what Rayne intended, if she intended anything at all. Perhaps I’m just telling myself, and now you, a story.
But it’s notable that since Rayne was added to the group, Cy and Willy B have been spending a lot more time grooming one another. Mr. Aloof and Mr. Awkward, brought together by a common interest in dominance, a shared fondness for female swellings, and a good friend that, subtle though she may be, seems to know what she’s doing.
Don’t forget about our Comfort & Joy Online Auction, going on now! You can bid on dozens of items to bring comfort and joy to the chimps and to yourself. Do you know what would bring me comfort? And maybe even a little joy? Replacing the components to our driveway entrance gate that were recently stolen and installing additional security measures to prevent future thefts. We’re about a third of the way there as I write this—thank you!
