Follower Diana K asked: How do the chimps react when they see the cattle, BK, deer, coyote, dogs, squrriels, rabbits, etc?
Excellent question Diana! And the answer is… it depends on the chimp(s) involved and the creature they see, also the proximity of that creature to the chimps can make a big difference in the chimps’ reaction! In general, the chimpanzees are very territorial of their space and will frequently patrol their outdoor enclosure to make sure all is in order. If they see something outside their enclosure that they deem to be an intruder, they will often try to intimidate that creature and scare them away.
Exhibit A: Chimps vs. horses
Sometimes it’s not so simple though. Here Jamie investigates from afar, newcomer Benny Dog who is being walked by JB.
Many of you may remember Ellie the Elk was a common face at the sanctuary for a few years. Since Ellie was extremely comfortable around humans, she wasn’t as easy to intimidate, and the chimps became familiar with her presence:
The cows are very familiar around here as well and are met with a bit of curiosity when they change pastures but are otherwise completely ignored.
Since George is the newest member of the sanctuary, he is still getting used to what “normal” is. You can see in this video he chases off some neighborhood deer. The deer are very common sights around here and are generally ignored by everyone else.
Smaller animals such as squirrels, marmots and Barn Kitty don’t seem to be of much interest to the chimps…
So long as those small animals stay out of the chimpanzees’ enclosure… It’s a totally different story if they find their way into the chimps’ territory. While Barn Kitty (BK) smartly keeps his distance, other animals such as marmots and squirrels have not been so lucky.
Snakes of course, are enemy #1 to the chimps. Alarm calls and a dispatch crew are called for in these situations:
Crows seem to use the chimpanzees existence to their advantage. They love to get first dibs on an outdoor forage:
Thievery is met with chasing:
Occasionally the chimps will see more unusual sanctuary visitors like coyotes or bobcat. These strange intruders can understandably be off-putting to the chimps.
Here Negra reacts in alarm to a coyote she spotted on the property:
In other news:
