Lizz is one of our long-time volunteers at the sanctuary (nearly 12 years)! She helps out at the chimp house for an entire weekend about once a month. She serves the chimps meals, cleans enclosures, and has very tight-knit relationships with the chimps. She does it all and is so so valuable to our team!
Lizz and Jamie grooming with a tool:
About 6 weeks ago, Lizz and I were cleaning Playroom 2 on Cy’s side of the building. She slipped and fell at one point and Gordo, who was asleep in the Playroom next door, woke up startled and screamed bloody murder. As you will see in the video above, even the other chimps have no idea what Gordo is responding to. Dora, Mave, Terry, and Honey B start running but they look confused as to why.
Ever since the fall, Gordo has been anti-Lizz. She’s been back a handful of times since and he has not let it go.
I’ll let Lizz tell you the whole story:
It was November 23rd, 2024. A day like any other. Jenna and I were scrubbing the upstairs in Playroom 2, discussing Thanksgiving plans when it happened… I fell. The hose caught on the railing. The resistance caused my foot to slide out behind me. I plopped onto my behind, the sprayer clanging on the floor. Gordo was startled awake, and then came the screaming. His reaction caught all of us off guard (chimps and humans alike). As you’ll see in the video, I don’t even get up right away – I am too shocked at the over the top reaction.
Since then, Gordo has been extremely leery of me. He keeps a close eye on where I am whenever possible, and maintains his distance, and if I walk into the part of the building he is in, he will become pilo, grimace and sometimes even scream. Prior to this, I had a very friendly relationship with him; we played a lot of chase, he would seek reassurance from me, and he’s even given me breathy pants/kisses. This shift in our dynamic is strange. I have been caregiving for chimpanzees for over a decade and have never had an experience quite like this one.
We did a little test today to see how he and I are getting along. Spoiler alert: it’s complicated.
This morning when I walked in alone to greet Gordo and Honey B, Gordo became pilo and walked to another room. When I walked in with Jenna, he immediately began screaming, and seeking reassurance from her, just like he had the day of the fall. At lunch, he was clearly on edge and pilo but took his meal from me, presented his back to me for reassurance in the form of knuckle rubs, and even gave me a breathy pant on my wrist. Suffice to say, we are making progress but he hasn’t forgiven or forgotten my fall just yet.
Why is he holding such a grudge? It’s impossible to say for sure. We do have some theories. Maybe the fall reminded him of someone, or something negative in his past. Maybe he had a bad dream. Maybe he likes the drama and attention when he has such a big reaction. Who knows. Chimps, like humans, are complex and sometimes odd critters.
I arrived today with a fresh pair of heavy duty boots. No more slipping on the floor for me. My plan is simple: I will win Gordo back over by playing it cool and never, ever, ever falling in front of him ever again.
it sounded like a gunshot to me. Maybe he has heard a similar sound in the past, with a highly emotional connect. I’m so glad he’s coming around to Lizz’s friendship again. Because I wouldn’t want him or her to continually experience negativity in each other’s presence.
He had a direct view, from the looks of angle 2. I could see where a hose nozzle might look like a gun/dart gun. Maybe you’re onto something.
Poor little guy…. his chirps, though!
Gordo’s a complicated boy, isn’t he
First of all, I glad Lizz wasn’t physically hurt. I’m really surprised at Gordo’s reaction, wish he could tell you why. I’m glad he seems to want to be friends with Lizz again and I hope the new boots prove to be slip proof.
He’s petrified. Poor thing. I hope he comes around.
Alas, poor Gordo…and poor Lizz. Perhaps the sound reminded him of a gunshot, and the memory traumatized him.
I have seen previous blog posts where the very pro-Lizz Burrito is having a grand time playing with his bud. With any luck, in time I hope that Gordito ages out of his Lizzaphobia.
The second tape (from Gordo’s point of view) reminded me instantly of the chimps’ reactions to snakes. Lizz was still holding the hose, and a groggy Gordo might have misidentified the “danger”. I’ll bet Gordo will come around soon; Lizz is too good a friend to lose.
Poor Gordito. You really wish you could talk to him and ask what’s wrong. I second that he was groggy and perhaps misidentified what was going on and now he identifies Lizz with that scary sound.
Keep at it, Lizz! You’ll win him back over!
That is so bizarre. So many questions run through my head. It appears as if Gordo couldn’t see Lizz at all, so if he heard Lizz fall or heard the hose clack onto the floor he wouldn’t know what caused the sound. He would simply have experienced a rude awakening, right? From Gordo’s waking vantage point, he sees Jenna and in his hysteria, seeks her reassurance. But he also runs to see Lizz, after Jenna. It surprised me that he is afraid but he only connected the fear or “scary unknown” to Lizz who is out of sight.
Assuming chimps dream like us, have you ever seen a chimpanzee wake up quickly and appear to be unsettled or anxious?
I am pleased to hear that Gordo is is working through it all and, with time, is realizing he misses his chase partner. Hang in there Lizz, and I’m relieved you didn’t break any bones! (12 years of volunteering! Amazing! You are the best.)
Kathleen – regarding your question about chimpanzees waking up suddenly and appearing unsettled or anxious (presumably from a dream), I haven’t personally witnessed that. Maybe other people have. I have been surprised watching on the cameras that Willy B can go from a sleeping state to displaying almost instantly, but it’s still usually a regular display that starts slow and works up, so it doesn’t seem to be a sudden reaction.