Sometimes the chimps can be silly – very silly! But, who do you think is the silliest chimp of all?
Willy B
Field Notes: A Laughing Matter
Welcome to the first installment of “Field Notes,” a blog where we share some of the more recent research articles.
In today’s edition, we will go over a sound that can be heard throughout the Chimp House on those perfect days: laughter!
Recently, researchers from Warwick University and Portsmouth University, both based in the United Kingdom, analyzed recordings of chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans living in zoos in the Germany and Malaysia. Researchers also analyzed the laughing patterns of human children as a comparison to the apes’ laughter.
The recordings were taken when the apes laughed during periods of play with a caregiver whom they know fairly well and tickled by their familiar human.
The research found all apes, including humans, have a rhythmic pattern to their laughter with humans being the only found (so far) to alter their laugh based on the context of the situation invoking the laugh. Researchers found the speed of the laughter, which is the part I found interesting, changed from species-to-species. Not only did the speed of the laughter change based on species, but it also fell nicely in line with the theory of when scientists predict each species branched out on the evolutionary tree. The theory is orangutans were the first to be stabilized as their own species, followed by gorillas, followed by chimpanzees and bonobos, and finally humans. Orangutans were found to have the slowest laughing rate, followed by gorillas, followed by chimpanzees and bonobos, followed by humans.
Here in the Chimp House, laughter is the greatest sound a caregiver can hear, and I’ve heard my share. For me, the two laughs that stick out are Honey B’s and, you guessed it, Burrito’s laugh.
It’s still hard for me to believe there was a period when Burrito did not laugh! Back in 2021, Diana wrote about Burrito’s laugh, or lack thereof, when he first arrived at the sanctuary in 2008. To me, Burrito has such a distinct laugh that can be picked out anywhere in the sanctuary. My favorite is when you get him really going and his laugh comes from his belly. That is usually my goal when I play with him; to get him to that specific laugh that cannot be contained no matter how hard he tries.
Honey B’s laugh stands out to me because she only has one volume: LOUD!
As someone who studies language, both chimp and human, it was neat seeing the patterns of laughing kind of fit nicely in the evolutionary process of apes. If you had the ape evolutionary branch in front of you, you can sort of guesstimate where on the branch human speech started to develop.
With that, I will leave you with this very precious video of Burrito laughing while playing with our dearly missed Jody.
And a last minute photo of Rayne!
Open Wide: Endoscope Training
Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) is an important part of how we care for the chimpanzees at CSNW. It allows us to work together to accomplish a variety of goals, from daily shifting to access their spaces for cleaning, emergency recall when there is danger present (for example a rattlesnake in their outdoor enclosure), regular monitoring of chronic health conditions (for example utilizing the Kardia Mobile to obtain ekg readings) as well as acute injuries (obtaining an x-ray on a hand or foot, or presenting a wounded body part for inspection and cleaning), and much more all while rewarding the chimps for their cooperation with something that is motivating for them. In today’s blog video, see what the chimps have been learning lately, and make your guess as to who will be the star student!
Look How Far We’ve Come
It’s my favorite time of year. When the grass is green and so tall you can barely see the chimps! As I went to take pictures of Jamie’s side of the building this morning, I looked over to the Bray and saw all of Honey B’s group outside on the Bray.
It made me reflect on how far their group has come. Nowadays, Mave spends a lot of her time out on the Bray. I remember a time when she was too afraid to go out. I love watching her and Honey B become so comfortable outside it’s now a preference for them. Sometimes even holding out from shifting so that they can keep it longer.
To me, it is a reflection of what sanctuary offers: providing choice and consistency for them. So that one day things like going outside, something that should have always be accessible to them in their prior life, are now always given, with the hope that one day it will not be so scary. But also recognizing that we have to meet the chimps where they are. Some may never go outside because of the fear, but the choice will always be there for them.
Today, when I looked out to the Bray to see Honey B, Willy B, and Mave all outside at the same time, I just felt really proud of them, for how far they have come.
Mave:
Honey B:
Willy B:
Photogenic Chimpanzees
When I arrived at the sanctuary this morning, I was determined to get as many photos as I could before our weekly staff meeting/training began. One, because a lot of you just love seeing photos of the chimps and their daily adventures. Two, because I wanted to prove to myself that I could get as many photos of as many chimps as I could. Granted, as some of you are aware, trying to get photos of some of them is almost impossible because either they come running up and get too close to the caging to get a photo, or they are in those few spots around the sanctuary where it is impossible to get a photo. Looking at you George, Cy, Dora, and Mave.
So please enjoy the product of this self challenge!
Burrito at breakfast:
Rayne during lunch today:
Gordo doing a little self-grooming:
Willy B also self-grooming:
Foxie and Moana go for a walk around Young’s Hill:
Sweet Lucky:
Missy at breakfast:
Terry waiting for a caregiver grooming partner after lunch:
Just noting that I did indeed get photos of Jamie and Annie, but they were a one shot scenario where the photo didn’t come out. Honey B was busy doing Honey B things on the Bray and in the Chute. She was just to fast/busy for me to get a photo. And Negra said no in her own Negra way by burying her face in her nest when the camera was raised. I obey all of the Queen’s demands.
For me, I would consider getting photos of half the chimps today was a success. Maybe in the near future I will try again.
Rage Baiting
Chimpanzees are prolific tool users. In the wild, chimpanzees have been documented fishing for termites, ants, and algae. Since we are kind of low on those fishing items, the fish for other things. For instance, as you’ll see in you video, Willy B likes to fish for attention from his neighbors. Though you’ll see Willy B doing most of the work, or lack thereof, we are sure he wasn’t the one who thought of this concept. The one most likely who started this activity is:
Honey B!
Though he didn’t start this behavior, I’m sure Willy B appreciates adding another chaos maker to his repertoire.
Willy B Decoded
Willy B is a creative spirit. You could even say innovative. Because of those qualities, he has absolutely no problem entertaining himself! Especially, if what he is doing is loud and slightly chaotic, it’s all the better for him. It’s just an environment he thrives in best. It would come to no surprise that when he keeps himself occupied, the games that he comes up with are just so Willy B coded: bouncy balls being thrown in all directions, boxes being dragged along the floor, slinkies being thrown around, or bouncing a giant tub again the wall. It’s just Willy B!
