Posts Tagged ‘behavior’
Chimps Ahoy: Hierarchy and Roles – Part 1 of 3
Chimpanzees are complex. Their social group dynamics thrive off the strength of their interconnecting web of relationships known as hierarchy. At Project Chimps, caregivers use three “levels” of hierarchy to help them discuss such a dynamic web: high-ranking, mid-ranking, and low-ranking.
Read MoreChimps Ahoy: Hierarchy and Roles – Part 2 of 3
The Chimps Ahoy group was really fun to watch! A majority of my time was spent watching a lot of grooming and napping—the two most common affiliative behaviors. This may seem like an uneventful behavior to some, but I got plenty of information on the relationships that the chimps had with each other.
Read MoreChimps Ahoy: Hierarchy and Roles – Part 3 of 3
From the beginning of my internship, we had our eyes on Justin and Rocko as possible enforcer candidates. Justin and Rocko are very dominant chimps that would usually be found around Kirk to show their high rank status.
Read MoreChimp Faces: Noticing & Reading Facial Expressions
Caregiver Aide Mackenzie explains the importance of closely observing the chimps, saying, “With the chimps we have to watch very carefully to determine how they’re feeling.” Staff must develop an understanding of the chimps’ baseline body and facial expressions so they can tell when something is ‘off’.
Read MoreBig Girls, Little Girls, Middle Girls: Female Chimps Learn From Each Other
When chimps come to sanctuary, they may be interacting with other chimps (or chimps of the opposite sex) for the first time. They may fail to understand social norms, and feel awkward, unsure, or anxious around other chimps. These interactions can be tricky because the chimps haven’t learned lessons that mom usually instills during childhood.
Read MoreQuite an Earful
Of all the abnormal behaviors that chimps perform, Genesis certainly has an interesting one. She loves to put things in her ears. She even jumps up and down to make the objects move around inside. She’s quite an earful!
Read MoreLeo-land
Leo has been a special chimp from the beginning, and we have been helping him cope with mental episodes. Leo has made significant improvements since he has arrived at the sanctuary and continues to thrive.
Read MoreCreator of the BOT (Behavior Observational Tool) – Eric Simonton
Eric Simonton developed the BOT several years ago. It’s actually an incredibly humorous and somewhat cosmic story.
Read MoreA Hair Plucking Journey
Behavior Coordinator Kate has spent many hours observing when Arielle plucks her hair. Once she understood when the behavior happened the most, she was able to come up with some solutions. Thanks to Kate, Arielle has stopped plucking and her hair has grown back!
Read MoreThe BOT Tool to Track Abnormal Behaviors
Kate’s job as Behavior Coordinator at Project Chimps is to observe and assess chimp behavior as well as run the Positive Reinforcement behavioral training program. Kate closely with the chimpanzees and caretakers to monitor the well-being of the chimps and determine whether or not there are any signs of abnormal behavior
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