Celebrate LANCE’s 21st birthday!
Lance, a chimp with an abundance of energy, has always been a wild and unpredictable member of his social group at Project Chimps. While his close relationship with Bo often allows him to get away with mischief, his interactions with Genesis, one of the females in the group, doesn’t always end in his favor. But Lance, he’s pulling off some real surprises these days. He’s striking up new friendships, and hey, guess what? He’s embracing his carefree side we didn’t know existed. We’re about to embark on a journey into the compelling narrative of Lance, whose recent personal metamorphosis and evolving dynamics within his social group have not only taken everyone by surprise but also sparked a wave of intrigue as he courageously steps beyond his usual boundaries, forges new bonds and unearths an unexpected yet delightful sense of playfulness.
Currently, Lance’s energy is often channeled into chaos, leading to occasional conflicts with his group members. Genesis, who had become socially savvy, found ways to counter Lance’s harassment by seeking support from Bo or even chasing Lance herself. These interactions did not satisfy Lance’s boundless energy, however, leading to his way of jumping and creating noise on the metal bottom of one of the rooms with its scale. This is a safer way for him to channel his energy as it keeps him from getting in trouble with other chimps. He has learned to redirect his energies on an inanimate object instead of on another chimp.
Lance’s alliances within the group have been politically fluid, depending on the dynamics of the day and the plans of the other males. While he is usually close with the alpha male, Bo, there are instances where Lance antagonizes another male, depending on who he chooses to support for the day.
Surprisingly, Lance’s learning experience along the way involves forming new friendships, particularly with select females in the group. Samira, Emma, and Gracie warmly welcomed his change in behavior and happily engaged with him. Lance has learned to play more and grooming the females which helps him form bonds with the females. He might need their back up if he chooses the wrong male to antagonize, but he still very much chases the females. He has also played with every chimp in his social group, relishing the attention and fostering a sense of camaraderie. Sure, he can still be a bit wild at times, but his new pals? He’s interacting more positively socially, and it’s been an upbeat change for him and everyone around him!
Lance has developed a fascinating method for self-expression: he’s particularly fond of those Jolly Balls with handles – they’ve become his signature tool for communication and highlighting his unique identity. With a fiery passion, he swings them around and hits things. He uses these displays – spinning them around and to draw attention to himself and show the other chimps that he’s not low ranking.
Today, March 2, we hope you’ll join us in wishing Lance a very happy 21st birthday! If you’d care to send him a birthday present, you can find Jolly Balls on our Amazon Wish List.
