If you’re Rayne or Lucky, you know that Terry’s a big softy. I mean, he cries every time Willy B makes a face at him! And everyone knows he’s not much of a fighter unless he has a whole crew backing him up. Lots of bark, very little bite.
But if you are Missy or Annie, he’s got to be one of the toughest guys ever. He’s so big and fuzzy! And those chest-beat displays—who does that? A gorilla, that’s who! Who is this guy?
That’s the magic of an electric fence. You can talk a big game and never have to back it up.
Sanctuaries often maintain multiple groups of chimps living within sight of one another. This runs counter to the natural territorial behavior of free-living chimpanzees but is often made necessary by practical considerations such as limited space and the economical advantages of shared infrastructure. Our friends at Fundació MONA in Spain looked at how having close neighbors affected the chimpanzees in their care and, as you might expect, there were some downsides. Increased vigilance and self-directed behaviors during some inter-group encounters were taken as evidence of stress. And while they didn’t find the contagious aggression seen in some other studies, in which conflict in one group makes conflict in another group more likely, we can anecdotally report that is does occur here from time to time.
But, as they noted, there are also a number of advantages to these arrangements. For chimps like Terry, they can offer a way to blow off some steam without stirring the pot within his own group—and if the girls across the way happen to be impressed, all the better. For chimps like Burrito, who is coming up on Season 18 of his own reality show, it can be enriching to have a new show with an entirely different cast to watch through the window. And when the chimps across the way are getting everyone riled up, there’s an opportunity for some affiliative interactions within the group. After all, nothing bonds an in-group like an out-group.
There are days when I think Terry would readily trade Willy B to another sanctuary and never have to see his group again. But what would he do without his legions of adoring fans to the other side, to whom he must certainly be The Greatest Chimpanzee That Ever Lived?
It’s always amazing to me that the ladies in the OG group are always interested in any male except the one that lives among them.:smile: It’s like he’s the little brother that they never had respect for, and nothing is going to change that.
On another note, Terry’s last display there was quite impressive, and I’m not even a chimp!
Terry is such a hoot!
What a fantastic video and blog. I’m in awe of Terrys chest pounding displays. It was fun reading the blog, I felt like I was right there on both sides of the fence seeing hearing and feeling it all.
Terry, Terry, big and scary,
He romps and beats his chest;
His gorilla impersonation,
Leaves the gals next door impressed!
I, too, am one of the many fans who believes Terry is one of The Greatest Chimpanzee That Ever Lived! Or so he appears out on the Bray. Wow. But it’s his sweet side that I love the most. Too bad Willy B and Terry couldn’t get along. Perhaps they could have nursed themselves through their insecurities.
I wasn’t aware Terry was such an emotional guy. Good to know and glad he’s found a healthy outlet for his tender feelings. Thanks JB.
That a boy Terry, my pal!
Love You
Terry is such a show-off! :joy:
Terry always reminds me of those big motor gang riders; big mussles, lots of hair everywhere, but inside tiny little boys….
Rough on the outside and so very insecure and soft on the inside.
PS. Tobin, you are such a great poët !
Thank you for your kind words. Now, if I can only snag that criminally overdue McArthur Genius Grant…