sneer

We’ve had a lot of rain at the sanctuary lately. We certainly need the rain, so I can’t complain, but the chimps are starting to remind me of myself when I was a kid and I couldn’t go out and play.

Today, when Burrito was outside in the rain, he made a face that we often see when the chimpanzees are uncomfortable. It’s close to what we would call a sneer but a sneer is usually seen more in fear or threat contexts. Burrito’s face says something more like “I know it won’t kill me but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” Jody makes this face when she’s outside in the cold, and Annie often makes it when she has to walk through tall grass.