Chimpanzees have a variety of vocalizations: some to warn their group members of potential danger, some when they’re excited, some when they’re anxious or scared, some when they’re happy, playing, or greeting someone… In the captive world, the chimpanzees also use vocalizations to express their specific needs/wants to their caregivers. As CSNW caregivers, we have been conditioned to know what certain vocalizations are, based on who they come from and what the context is.
For today’s blog, I have compiled 6 of the top sounds you would hear from our chimp residents and I explain their special meaning.
Enjoy!
Oh my gosh, a whole blog on the raspberry! When I talk to people about the chimps, they ask, “how do they tell the caregivers what they want?” And I say “thry find a way.”
I love that they all want a thing: gum, doll, tv, a bit of your time. But Honey B? Nah, she just wants to be nosy:smile:
:rofl:
So well presented and very interesting, Jenna, and you are very finely tuned into the various vocalizations from the chimp family.How long did it take for you to become conditioned and to be able to differentiate,I mean it’s almost like learning another language! Thanks for sharing and for giving us a glimpse into yet another aspect of life at CSNW.
I agree with Linda, Honey B is just plain nosy. They are all unique and loveable in their own way.
Thanks, Jenna, that was the best!! The Art of Raspberry Blowing. Very funny hearing the different styles!! Honey B’s were long, loud, and hard to miss. (Sneaky HB trying to spy through the clinic door!) On the opposite end of Honey B’s was Cy’s short and sweet sound. Enough raspberry blowing, off with the game of chase!
Best part, everyone was happy with their communication skills. Everyone received exactly what they requested. Well done.
Fifty shades of raspberry! :strawberry: Thank you for the explanation! How do they react if you misinterpret their raspberries? I mean, do they just leave/throw a tantrum/repeat raspblowing/try with another type of vocalization? Do you know anything about raspberry-blowing among wild chimps as a form of communication?
Raspberry-blowing seems to be exclusive to captive chimps! I suppose it’s because they use it to communicate with their caregivers and not each other.
Thank you, Eli!
Hi Adrienne! All of our chimps just continue to blow raspberries. Burrito, for example, will start hitting the caging (which is much louder) if he feels like we can’t hear him. Lucky, on the other hand, because we can’t give her gum every second of every day, eventually understands it’s not happening in that moment and she moves on! :laughing:
Thank you, Jenna!
Granted some of those were really cute, but the raspberry is my least favorite sound. Maybe because Terry did it incessantly when he first arrived. Does he still? I haven’t noticed it as much lately. For a while there, it was the background noise of every video!
I believe he still does
Terry is still the raspberry king! He does it more generally so I didn’t include it in this video.
Surprised Terry wasn’t in the video! He’s the king of blowing raspberries!
Honey B is such a snoop! I imagine no matter where you are in the sanctuary, you’re never far from the watchful eye of either Jamie or Ms. Beans.
Bubba and Willy are such screen addicts! Bubba’s little excited dance with the leg shake is just too endearing!