Kivuli

Kivuli is the youngest chimp at the sanctuary and has grown a lot since his arrival back in 2018! As the youngest in his group, he’s still learning his spot within the hierarchy and never fails to surprise staff with his antics. In the words of his caregivers, Kivuli causes a lot of chaos! 

Kivuli’s journey from a shy, timid chimp to the mischievous prankster he is now couldn’t have happened without a helping hand from Hercules. Back then, whenever there was drama or a disagreement in the group, Kivuli would run behind Hercules and hold onto him like a young chimp might hold onto his mother. He was also too nervous to eat with the males on a regular basis, preferring instead to eat with the females in his group. However, that’s no longer the case! 

Today, caregivers often see Kivuli first up at the hopper, even in front of high-ranking chimps like Kennedy and Binah. Since he’s still growing, he gets extra chow at lunch time to power his new muscles. He’s generally the last to come back inside for dinner as he likes to do one last lap around the habitat. He’s also been testing the ground outside of mealtime. As teenagers, it’s common for younger members of chimpanzee groups to try bluff displays to assert themselves into the group’s hierarchy, which can often result in reprimands. However, Kivuli seems to enjoy a great deal of leniency from his fellow chimps despite his frequent shenanigans! 

Care staff are really enjoying watching Kivuli grow and figure out his role within the group!