Meet Paul – smart and observant

By James Haworth

If Chimpanzee Caregiver Mackenzie Cropper had favorites, Paul would be one of them. 

“Paul is especially drawn to humans,” says Mackenzie. “He seems to enjoy watching us, studying our movements, and trying to engage us.” As endearing as that can be, Mackenzie points out that it’s not always the best thing for a chimp’s overall well-being. “We want the chimps to enjoy a close knit relationship with each other rather than with us; so we try to give them space to focus on developing those bonds.” When Paul gives Mackenzie a friendly greeting, she acknowledges him by “bobbing her head, and presenting an upward facing palm” and moves on. 

Paul is Independent 

Small (at 110 pounds) and shy, Paul is currently one of the lower ranking chimps in his group. “Care staff have witnessed positive interactions between Paul and his group mates, but he seems to prefer his own company for the most part.” When a higher-ranking chimp “displays,” in a raucous and sometimes chaotic show of bravado, “Paul can get scared — expressing this by crying, screaming, and running to nearby chimps for comfort and reassurance.” Mackenzie explains that “being socially engaged during all kinds of interactions is important to developing his position in the group’s social hierarchy.”

In the wild and in captivity, chimpanzee relationships depend on conflict and resolution. The bonds between chimps grow through these small arguments and subsequent reconciliation.

Paul is Smart

“Paul is a smart chimp, and observant,” says Mackenzie, “and his interest in humans often makes it challenging to shift him out of the cubbies. He usually requires extra time to consider his options and decide if he will shift with his group. Carestaff will often use meals, exciting scatter, and words of encouragement as shifting incentives.”

When proposed with environmental changes such as shifting from room to room, he’ll sometimes exhibit stereotypical behaviors. This might be pacing, repetitively self-soothing, and walking back and forth, from wall to wall.“ When he starts those behaviors, we give him extra space to process and decide. We want the chimps to have the widest range of choices, and to make those choices themselves.” Mackenzie says, “Paul will usually shift for care staff, just at his own pace.”

Paul is a Retiree

A research subject for most of his 20 years, Paul is now retired. (Several published reports describe the role he played in studies of the Hepatitis B Virus.) While his life in the lab certainly influenced who Paul is today, he’s settling into his new home at the sanctuary. Mackenzie hopes and expects that he’ll grow in confidence in the coming months and years. “I love them all so much, but Paul holds a special place in my heart.” [Don’t worry, Mackenzie–we won’t tell the others!]

Show your support for Paul and his 95 chimp friends by making a donation for Giving Day for Apes today!