Today we did a re-intro involving Terry, Rayne, Honey B and Willy B and it went really well! It’s always been a question of how the chimpanzee males will react to each other in a group setting and where they will fall within the dominance hierarchy. Today, Terry exhibited a lot of submissive behaviors (pant-grunts and bobbing) to Willy B who seemed to appreciate the amenable gestures. While we don’t know what that means for future introductions, it was certainly a step in the right direction.
Willy B and Terry spent the afternoon playing and grooming with each other and took nice breaks to play with Rayne and Honey B.
Terry and Willy B:
Thanks, Anna! Always good to hear that things went well!
Of course, my money is on either Cy or Willy B, but we just can’t know who will be the leader until it happens, do we? You would think that with mating taken out of the equation, it might not be such a big deal.
When these guys get together for these “play dates”, is there meal service? And if so, do you still have to separate Willy B from everyone?
Good question Linda. I guess with mating out of the way, food would be the next potential for conflict, but as the caregivers know the ‘pecking order’ then they could manage it.
But do *they* know mating is out of the question?
Terry doesn’t. 😉
Apparently, the rest of the operations “took”. Or, like Burrito, there was never anyone to show them…
er, “how it’s done”.
There is sometimes meal service but we haven’t worked too much on that yet. It will certainly be an issue, particularly with Willy B who is pretty possessive over his meals.
Thanks for the reply, Anna. Hopefully, Cy’s security and preference for reading over eating would help. But we won’t know until we get there.
The pictures of Terry holding Willy’s right hand evoke the beginning of Puck’s concluding siloquiy in “A MidSummer’s Night’s Dream”: “Give me your hands, if we be friends…”
Yay ! so glad everyone is getting along so well.
Thank you for the great pic’s today, Willy B looks like a leader.
He and Cy both seem like it, that’s ny worry. Cy seems as though he would be a more secure leader. But we can’t really tell with Willy B, because his group is so small, and he’s been the only male forever
What lovely news….the boys look great together. What’s the next step? Do you plan more than four together for introductions or is it all 9 at once? Are there any combinations that you don’t feel have worked? They must be getting used to each other now and maybe remembering their play pals from recent meetings?
We have big plans in the future and will work hard at seeing if all 9 can be together. Some combinations are definitely more successful than others but nothing that has made us think this still can’t happen yet :blush:
The two new groups will be sharing the new outdoor arena….correct…?
Yes that’s the plan 🙂
Terry sounds like a true team player…at least for today! Nice photos of the two boys together. I’m hoping the friendship continues.
Cy would have more troop members to back him up so I do worry about a play for dominance between Willy B and Cy boy. It is always so nerve racking because you just never truly know what will happen. Sometimes they will surprise you!
you read my mind, Deanna