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Sanctuary update |
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Pretty Claudette,
relocated recently from the Johannesburg Zoo
where she was having problems fitting in
socially, is our newest Sanctuary resident.
There was no need for quarantine as Claudette
was moved from within South Africa. She was
initially housed in a central room in the
sleeping quarters to be introduced to her new
family. Claudette had known Amadeus and Nikki
while they were still all together at the Zoo.
The ‘boys’ recognised her immediately,
vocalising and grooming her through the bars.
After a week, Josephine was introduced to
Claudette and the two shared a cage. Within a
mere two weeks of arriving, Claudette was out in
the enclosure and has settled in very happily.
Since our last newsletter, Josephine has been
successfully introduced into Amadeus’ group,
while Tony and Sampa joined the ‘baby group’
headed by Joao. By the time you read this,
little Tony will have had his cataract removed –
an operation involving both a vet and a (human!)
eye specialist.
Tony was the one of the most problematic chimps
to introduce into a family group. Although the
older Sampa protects him, he is very skittish
and the group picked on him at first. Also,
because of his one ‘blind’ eye, his skills are
not great.
Phillip therefore introduced him slightly
differently, putting him outside for short
periods before taking him back into night
quarters. He gradually increased the time Tony
spent outside with the others.
Quarantine was lifted for Martha (14) from
Ghana, Suzie (7) and Lily (about 18 months) from
Angola, and our seven new youngsters from the
Sudan at the end of September. Little Charlene,
who has problems with coordination, is showing
signs of improvement. They are being introduced
to each other within the quarantine quarters,
and will form a new family group. Martha, who
was alone in a Ghanaian zoo and has no
experience of being with other chimps, is doing
remarkably well.
Amadeus has taken over from Abu as the alpha
male, and has calmed down recently. Jinga, the
largest of the girls, is the alpha female. The
rest of the females are still working out the
pecking order and there are scraps as they sort
out the hierarchy. The four original females had
settled down. Josephine then joined the group,
and later, Claudette. The family now has eight
adult members, and hopefully will not have to be
disrupted with further additions.
“The social structure has to change each time a
new chimp is introduced, so this family is
practically closed now,” says Phillip. “It’s not
fair to keep throwing out the balance.”
As soon as the new night quarters are complete,
the family groups will all move. Amadeus’ group
will move to the enormous third enclosure,
served by the new building. Here the chimps have
even more space, and a much more densely
forested area. Sanctuary manager Phillip Cronje
says the move may take a while, depending on how
the chimps take to their new accommodation and
enclosure.
Once they have moved, Joao’s family which
consists of three adult males (Joao, Cozy and
Zac) and nine youngsters, will then move into
Amadeus’ ex-enclosure. This move should be easy,
as the chimps know this enclosure, albeit only
through the fence.
Martha’s ten-strong group will then move into
the ‘baby enclosure’.
“It will be fascinating being able to compare
the two groups of youngsters, one with male
adults in charge and the other led by female
adults,” says Phillip.
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©
Jane oodall Institute South Africa |
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