The Role of “Auntie” in Female Chimps
By Anna Lietman
Do you have aunties in your life? Sometimes related to you—your mom’s sisters, maybe—or sometimes family friends of no relation to you, although you didn’t realize until age 15 that you aren’t related?
Chimps have these ambiguous female figures too! Growing up without their mom, our orphaned lab chimps rely even more heavily on the guidance of older influences.
Older female chimps who take young female groupmates under their metaphorical wing, I call “aunties.” But really, they’re just old ladies showing young girls the ropes.
Between the “Fun Aunt” in Harmony Villa and the “Tough Aunt” in Dorothy Jo and Tilly’s Villa (DJT), vital auntie characters abound at Project Chimps.
Female chimps who are the “Fun Aunt”
LB, Harmony Villa’s unofficial “Fun Aunt,” likes to dote on Sarah, Amy, and Loretta, the “Little Girls.”
She serves as the link between these three “Little Girls” and the three “Big Girls” at the top of the hierarchy. Part of the “Big Girl” trio, LB still maintains very strong relationships with the youngest in her group.
She dotes, reassures, and guides the youngsters as they grow and navigate chimp social settings. She also plays with them often.
LB will initiate play after a conflict as a means to reassure the “Little Girls.” If they get startled by a male’s rowdy display, LB will be the first to provide comfort, cheering up the “Little Girls” through play.
They keep LB young, bringing out the playful side of her. And in turn, playtime brings them much-needed emotional support, the kind chimps crave after a fight.
Female chimps who are the “Tough Aunt”
Like LB, Jamie, holds a high status in her group. Born in 1989, she’s the oldest chimp in DJT Villa, and accordingly well-respected.
But unlike other high-ranker LB, Jamie has a tough persona. While most chimps accept social grooming as a nice gesture, Jamie isn’t afraid to tell another chimp she’s not in the mood to be groomed. She’ll slap a male’s hand away when he tries to groom her.
According to Behavior Coordinator Kate, even the most dominant boys don’t mess with Jamie. “She’s a power woman,” says Kate.
Kate also describes her as a “girl’s girl,” because Jamie has extremely close bonds with the other high-ranking female chimps in DJT Villa. More recently, Jamie has connected with the younger females in her group.
Female chimps as a Group of Aunties
Along with the other high-ranking female chimps in DJT Villa—Jurita, Precious, and Jill—Jamie helps keep the younger girls in line.
The four eldest, nicknamed the “Golden Girls,” work as a unit to teach the six adolescent females in their group right from wrong. Behavior Coordinator Kate imagines that the four distinct personalities of the old ladies somehow work together to form the perfect auntie combo. Kate explains her reasoning: “Adolescent females are super dramatic, screaming, they’re just crazy. It probably does take a variety of personalities to keep them behaving.”
The Auntie Character
One commonality LB and Jamie share is their watchfulness. They both like to keep a close eye on their families. Caregivers notice these chimps carefully observing their groupmates, monitoring from a distance.
Their hypervigilance is outmatched only by their intelligence. Staff pick smarts as the top quality in each of these chimps.
Between Harmony Villa’s “Big Girls” and DJT Villa’s “Golden Girls,” these smart, watchful aunties remind of me of gossipy old ladies who understand intricate group dynamics better than anyone else. They’re always attuned to the happenings and ready to intervene, teaching lessons or providing solace.
Go thank an auntie in your life by sending them an e-card featuring a chimp!
