These last couple of weeks have been a busy one at the sanctuary as we welcomed our newest staff members Amanda and Ellen to the team! They will introduce themselves individually to all our blog readers in a few weeks but for now they are learning the ins and outs of our daily routine.
One of the first steps in their training is to learn to identify all of the chimpanzees. They get opportunities to watch the chimps during meals and in passing as we practice doing door checks but it’s also nice to have additional resources like the blog to check out photos and videos of the chimps. One resource that we have created was an ID playlist on YouTube featuring each of the chimpanzees in different settings. Trainees can watch the videos and see the chimps from multiple angles and in different settings. I discovered that I needed to update our playlist to include the “Lucky Six” so that’s the project I am currently focusing on. Conveniently, these videos can also tie nicely into a blog. Today I made the Cy ID video.
Cy is a big chimpanzee with thick rounded features. He has a silver back and a grey beard. His face features a prominent brow ridge and deep creases. After you watch the above video, what features might you use to identify Cy?
At 1:22… his ear is Perfection!
What can I say… That’s what I noticed.:person_shrugging:?
For me it is his prominent brow ridge, his white beard and his deeply intelligent and penetrating eyes. I am mostly only able to identify the chimps by seeing at least part of their face. I still have a hard time telling some of them apart without a similar looking chimp nearby for comparison; Foxie, Honey B, Lucky, Rayne, Missy and Jamie come to mind. Others are extremely easy to tell apart; all of the boys, Annie, Dora, Mave and Negra.
Hi, Anna!
I would say the gray/silver spot on his back, but I’m not sure if Gordito has the same (though Gordo may be smaller/trimmer). And while his back isn’t as straight as the Boss’s when he walks, his stance is pretty powerful
Handsome Cy. When trying to spot Cy I look for his kind, gentle, dark face and his white beard. Since I only see him on my computer or phone, sometimes size seems hard to guesstimate! If I get close enough I note his dark complexion below his beard. Gordo has a pink chin under his white beard and Terry is freckled and pale under his thinner white beard. In the beginning I couldn’t get over the close resemblance between Cy and sister Lucky! But now, I feel more familiar with their personalities shining through their faces helping me to differentiate who is who.
It would be challenging spotting the different chimps from afar while out on the Bray. Yikes. I would really need to study up! Good luck Amanda and Ellen and welcome to you both! Looking forward to your insights.
How would I identify Cyrus Chimpanzee? You mean, without a copy of Hola! magazine in his hands? The shape of his browridge is certainly distinctive. Perhaps not as distinctive as his alarm call when he catches sight of a giraffe or a hippopotamus (flannel shirt optional), but distinctive nonetheless.
Indeed, it looks like Cy is sporting some silver upon his back(!) I’ve long suspected that Willy B qualifies as a gorilla, and in Monday’s blog we saw evidence that Terry knows how to act and sound like a gorilla. And now Cy has is showing some gorilla traits, too! Any chance that the sanctuary will have to change its name to the Primate Sanctuary Northwest? On this World Animal Day, I say three hoots for ecological diversity!
P.S. Note to Amanda and Ellen: Terry will be providing audial cues to identify himself to you. And, just so you both know, he also quite the flirt…
Yep, the prominent browridge and that oh so handsome face.
Besides the traits you listed, I also recognize Cy from his hair! The way it gathers at the back of his head reminds me a bit of a bulb, like the top of an onion or garlic xD Especially when seen in profile.
And then he also has a little “horn of hair” near the shoulders. Willy B also has that, but it’s a bit different because in his case it looks like a mullet (which to me adds to Willy B’s bad-boy vibe).
Well, I always say ” the eyes have it” and when I looked at this gorgeous “Cy” video I would recognise those eyes anywhere. Intelligent, soulful and so penetrating. That has to be Cy.
He is perfect in every way!!! The mostest handsome and awesome guy!!!