Both Terry and George did so well with each other! It’s really interesting to watch George sit still while Terry is grooming him. Generally, chimpanzees reciprocate more readily. He did the same thing when we introduced George to Cy for the first time.
George does groom his human caregivers, so he’s not unfamiliar with it overall – grooming seems to be pretty hardwired in chimpanzees.
It’s hard to say what George is thinking. Maybe he’s playing it safe and making sure he doesn’t send the wrong signal or maybe being groomed by a big male is intimidating.
He’s really doing remarkably well for a 21-year-old chimpanzee who hasn’t had much social experience, and probably no social experience with adult males! Go George Go!
Diana — Of course I have to ask, do wild chimps not pull hair when grooming? If no, then why do captive chimps? 🙂
Thanks!
My immediate answer was they don’t do it much, if at all, but I’m going to ask my colleagues who study chimpanzees in the wild to be sure that’s the correct answer. In captivity, chimpanzees (and other primates) can definitely overdo it, sometimes plucking themselves or others bald, and that’s considered an abnormal behavior associated with captivity. You can see in this video that Terry is missing quite a bit of hair from his shoulders from someone over-grooming.
Thanks, Diana!
Both such sweet, gentle guys. George did look unsure, at best, but did well, IMO. You all talk about how laid back he is, reminding me of the comments made when Mave first arrived. Will George and Mave meet?
I do hope so. I have been thinking about a Mave-George hug from the first moment.
Have you seen “Mave meets Burrito?”
It was the best hug EVER!!
Found it!
https://youtu.be/44j9nJEiyPM?si=iya2n5Dhv6gpt0E1
That’s my favorite hug of all time between Mave and Burrito. We are currently focused on introducing George to members of Cy’s group, but we have discussed him meeting Mave, Honey B, and Willy B for one-on-ones so they are familiar with each other since they see each other frequently.
Thanks, Diana. Good grooming, Terry. Excellent recipient,George. Now, you try it next time. .
I continue to be amazed by George’s bravery.
Great to see George socializing and getting on so well.
Terry is a detail oriented groomer. When he went in with his lips to groom George’s arm, George’s facial expression was interesting. Love to know what thoughts were running through his head! As you pointed out, it did appear as if Terry was showing George how to groom. Right when the video ended it looked as if George began grooming Terry’s backside. Hope he got the hang of it!
Imagine being George, and this is all new to you…and then you’re handed THAT job! :sweat_smile: Which, in Terry’s mind, makes sense–“hey man, help me with the parts I can’t see!”
Tender and touching watching Terry gently encouraging George in grooming him. Even a little play bite thrown in. All in all a very satisfying session.
it looks wonderful. Congratulations to all!
Aw, bless, he does seem to feel a bit out of sorts! If only he knew he was being groomed by the sweetest, most gentle giant on campus!
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Go, George, go!
Terry is so patient and gentle. It’s so wonderful to see him and George getting to know each other.
Oh that face…..I dare not move in case I get into trouble! So unsure, but ready to learn. I hope he learns the important pleasures of mutual grooming. Terry is so sweet to him……what a nice friend to have.
I have watched this a few times now because I just love the subtle changes in George’s expression and his overall posture seems to say a lot. It appears as if he is relaxed but, at the same time ridged, not wanting to move. First time I watched, I enjoyed watching his eyes. However, I now can see he is not just showing his “feelings” through his eyes and posture, George’s ears react as much as his eyes! Much like a dog speaks through his ears, George seems to be reacting with his ears and I’ve ever noticed this before. (I have never paid attention to a chimps ears because there’s always so much else going on with their behavior.)
when watching the rescued chimpanzees of the Congo, a very similar thing happened with Benjamin, a 14-year-old male who had lived alone his whole life. The female he was paired with at the sanctuarywould sit down right in front of him with her back to him and he would just sit and look at her back like “what?”. so interesting.
Aw. Terry is just super sweet right?!