Chad de Bree

Alpha Cy-chology

April 5, 2022 by Chad de Bree

Within a chimpanzee community, the term used to describe the dominant chimpanzee is alpha. There seems to be an agreement there are different styles of dominance, with two being the main types: those who are political and those who use brute strength. There is a great TED Talk with Frans de Waal where he explains these two different styles. Those who are more political savvy navigate their way through their community to build trust and relationships with their community. These alphas, when they lose their top position, can still be a big influence on their community years after their term is up. The other type are those who use strength and fear to make their way to the top. By showing they are stronger than the rest, the rest submit to their displays. These alphas in the wild tend to be excommunicated from the community or killed when their term is up. There is a National Geographic documentary called Kingdom of the Apes, which showcases these two styles when brothers Freud and Frodo vie to become the alpha of their group. This all took place within the Kasakela community, the group Jane Goodall has studied over the decades.

The groups who reside here do have their alphas or perceived alphas. One of the alphas I want to talk about today is Cy.

We are coming up quickly on the 1 year anniversary since Cy and his group arrived here, and we have been in awe of Cy since. From what we’ve seen, Cy is very patient and very socially aware of the other chimpanzee’s emotional states. He always seems to know when it’s the right time to show off his size and strength or to just let the others get what they need off their chest. During the introduction process, Cy has been great at making friends. I think we were all caught off guard when him and Willy B first met and how well it went. When two alphas get together during this process, there is a huge sense of anxiety that lingers in the air on what will happen between the two. Luckily for us, we have Cy. Throughout the entire process we have seen Cy time and time again place his own body between two who are getting nervous around each other and diffuse the situation. That’s not to say he doesn’t show off his strength when he needs to.

Of the two styles of dominant chimpanzees, I would place Cy on the political side. He seems to receive the respect from everyone not because he demands it, but because he earns it. I know he has earned mine.

Cy is the most patient, big-hearted, caring, playful, and handsome alpha.

Forage For Ages

March 29, 2022 by Chad de Bree

For the first time in what feels like forever, we have had some consistent sunny days with the temperatures in the 60s. A sunny day with slight overcast in 60º weather and the slightest of breezes are the perfect conditions for the first forage on Young’s Hill of 2022!

Annie:

Burrito:

Foxie:

Jamie:

Jody:

Missy:

Negra:

Annie and Missy:

Chimp ID: Dora

March 22, 2022 by Chad de Bree

Today we will round out our Chimp ID Series of the Lucky Six! Though she is last in this series, she is certainly not the least. Today is all about none other than Dora!

When Dora first arrived here, she was a bit of an enigma to the caregivers. She was very quiet and reserved, and wanted no interactions with the humans outside of meal time. Though she loves spending time with her chimpanzee family, she also enjoys were alone time equally as well.

Lucky, Dora, and Rayne eating breakfast.

As the months went on, Dora really started showing her personality to the human caregivers. She let them know that she indeed loves to play.

Just like a certain someone we all also know well, she is tiny but fierce. Dora is in the fact tiniest member of her group. But despite her small stature, we have seen her step up to the big guys in her group if they get too rowdy.

In fact, today Willy B began displaying in the Oakwood Greenhouse while she was grooming Terry in Riverview. As Willy B was displaying, Dora was the first one to begin to respond to his displays with pant hoots and a swift kick to the caging that separates them.

For us caregivers, it is this tiny body that allows us to identify her easily. But as you may have noticed, though she has a tiny body, she has big eyes. Her eyes are very unique to her group. This is another feature we use to tell it’s Dora.

We are really only starting to get to know Dora, and can’t wait to see her shine!

The Matter of Time

March 13, 2022 by Chad de Bree

Today is Daylight Savings! Meaning for most of the United States (Arizona and Hawaii excluded) most of us lost an hour of sleep as our clocks were set an hour ahead. But for us here at the Chimp House, it was business as usual since the chimps don’t obey the concept of Daylight Savings. All this means is that the humans come in an hour later, though in reality it’s the same time had we not set our clocks forward.

When the chimpanzees were given access to Young’s Hill, Burrito zoomed out of his greenhouse and was off to the races.

Before we finished our morning run, he stopped for a bit and took in the morning sun.

For others, business as usual can mean something else.

For Mave, it meant a full day of lounging around.

Rayne spent the day fishing for raisins from raisin boards.

Honey B being mischievous.

Even when she’s eating her lunch, she has her eye on you.

Dora be inquisitive of the camera.

Cy being as handsome as ever.

Also being very inquisitive of the camera.

A closeup of Lucky’s eye.

And Terry watching the human caregivers walk by.

Hopefully the chimpanzees’ day helped you push through the hour that was lost. We hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

Days like Today

March 8, 2022 by Chad de Bree

After taking in several days of great weather, we are back to winter conditions. What started off as rain, quickly turned into snow, with it supposed to last throughout the afternoon and into the night. With a day like today, the chimpanzees are spending most of the day in their nests on the upper story, where it is nearly impossible to get any photos. But who can blame them. It’s the perfect day to just cozy up and nap.

I was able to get some sporadic photos here and there though.

Jody resting in the front rooms in her nest.

Mave came down for a few minutes before going back up to her nest.

Honey B! (That’s a tomato seed on her lip.)

Happy Birthday Willy B and All the March Birthdays

March 1, 2022 by Chad de Bree

What a day of celebration! It’s Mardi Gras, spring is literally on the horizon, there are parties to be had, vegan beignets to eat…

Firstly, it’s Willy B’s 32nd birthday! And it seems each of the chimpanzee’s or bovine’s birthdays wouldn’t quite be the same without their friend and self-appointed birthday fairy godmother extraordinaire, Paulette Wrisley, sponsoring a day of sanctuary in their honor! (Our second generous sponsorship of the day!).

Paulette, thank you so much for your incredible generosity and loving heart for all who call the sanctuary home. We truly appreciate you helping to make Willy B’s special day, extra so.

To celebrate Willy B’s birthday and Fat Tuesday, Dr Erin baked some sugar-free vegan beignets with ground up dry coconut “powdered sugar.”

These were a hit!

It was very difficult to get photos of the birthday boy enjoying his with his powdered lips, but I was able to get one of Annie who also enjoyed the beignets!

Also on the menu for the birthday boy were mangoes.

Willy B also enjoyed one of his favorite food puzzles: Frisbee Puzzles.

And as Willy B’s party is winding down, we also want to wish Happy March Birthdays to all of you celebrating this month! Not only do you share your birthday season with big guy, Willy B, but also even bigger guy, Cy, who is turning 32 on March 12th.

As always, even when it sometimes feels most difficult, we get to be reminded there is also resilience and hope, beauty and imagination. (Note to selves: The chimpanzees are really good at showing us how this can look. And much to our grateful hearts, so are you).

Here are some additional photos from today!

Honey B enjoying her lunch.

Terry also enjoying his lunch.

A Lucky Combination

February 15, 2022 by Chad de Bree

We continued with introductions today with Cy, Lucky, Willy B, and Mave. In the beginning, Willy B and Cy had to get out some displays… a lot of displays. It took them about 20 minutes to calm down and start grooming between the mesh. We gave them a few minutes before we opened the door. Any combination that includes Lucky and Mave is one of my personal favorites. Mave and Lucky get along really well and genuinely seem to enjoy each other’s quiet company grooming each other. Even when the boys are displaying before the door opens, Lucky and Mave usually seeks reassurance from each other regardless of who else in a part of the introduction.

Willy B and Lucky aren’t the greatest of acquaintances. In fact, Willy B usually antagonizes Lucky during most of their meetings. But there are some windows of calm between the two.

Then the “bromance” between Willy B and Cy continues. After they got their displays out of their system, they spent the rest of the afternoon grooming and playing. We could hear their laughs through out the whole Chimp House.