Bo matures into alpha of Cedar Tree

By Joseph Elliott

It’s been a year and a half since separate groups of six males and nine females were put together to form Bo’s group at the Cedar Tree villa.

It’s turned out to be a great learning experience both for the chimps and the caregivers alike.

In theory, it makes some sense to put similarly-aged chimps together. Everyone is around the same age and have generally shared the same upbringing, so everything should be fine.

But we’ve learned that it is better to have varying age ranges so the older chimpanzees can teach the younger ones proper chimp behaviors. In Bo’s group, specifically, we are seeing the entire group maturing and growing.

Bo has been striving to be the alpha male at Cedar Tree. In the past, he lacked follow-through when it came to achieving that status. He would do the bare minimum. Stirlene, another high-ranking male in the group, seemed to believe he could do a better job than Bo. Stirlene, on the other hand, has even worse follow through.

Stirlene challenges Bo for status as alpha of Cedar Tree

On two separate occasions, Stirlene managed to become alpha, but he couldn’t hold onto the title for long. He would revert back to his old ways and fail to take action that would break up disputes. An important part of the alpha’s job is to break up squabbles and make sure everyone stays together. You can’t wander too far on your own without consequences.

Stirlene wanted to sit in the big boy chair, so to speak, but he wouldn’t break up fights or corral chimps from wandering off. Eventually, Bo stepped back into the role of Alpha.

The politicking didn’t end there.

Within the last couple months or so, Stirlene recruited Jabari — a mid-ranking male — to be his second in command, and together they began to confront Bo. During that same time, it seemed to finally “click” in Bo’s head that if he wants to run this group, then he needs to prove himself to the other members.

Bo began to step up and break up disputes before they escalated. He even toned down his wild behavior toward the females of his group. Bo was doing an amazing job and it seemed the rest of the group supported him, except for Stirlene and Jabari.

You could practically see the wheels turning in the minds of Stirlene and Jabari — frankly it’s a little unnerving — as they were attempting to rattle Bo. They would sometimes come from both sides to challenge Bo, but he handled the two oppositions beautifully.

Bo fends off the opposition … with a little help

Recently, Bo was feeling very brave and confronted Stirlene on one occasion. However, he didn’t account for Jabari, who came from underneath Bo and together, the duo flipped Bo onto his back. In the past, this would deter Bo and he would give up his post as alpha. Not the new Bo, though.

This time, Bo recovered and successfully repelled Jabari. Lower-to-mid-ranking males Eddie and Jason backed up Bo on this particular day. Eddie sat in one of the aerial tunnels that connect the bedrooms and blocked Stirlene from double-teaming him.

Jabari then began to display at Bo, who confronted him. Jabari ran to Stirlene for assistance, only to have Stirlene turn his back on him. Realizing he didn’t have backup in this standoff anymore, Jabari ran to Bo and asked for forgiveness. Stirlene, likewise realizing that he no longer had another male and none of the females to back him up, also turned and asked Bo for forgiveness.

In recent days, both Stirlene and Jabari have been grooming a very content-looking Bo, who seems to have finally cemented his status as the alpha of Cedar Tree.

You can help our alpha chimps by making a donation towards our behavior training program to help ensure all the chimps adjust to new alphas as they change roles!