Missy loves to groom herself using a tool. She often uses a piece of bark or straw that she finds on the ground, but if those aren’t doing the trick she will create a better tool.
Posts Tagged ‘Grooming’
Missy’s grooming tool
Friday, August 12th, 2011Grooming Missy
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011Missy is such an avid groomer. On a quiet afternoon, we usually catch her grooming somebody. It’s nice to get groomed in return, though, and here’s some pictures of that.
Annie grooming Missy’s hand
Burrito grooming Missy’s face
Ladies’ Man
Saturday, June 18th, 2011Burrito was intently grooming Jody this afternoon:
Jody was pretty relaxed after the grooming session, as you can see by her drooped-lip facial expression:
Relaxing Jody
Monday, June 6th, 2011I don’t think I’ve ever met a more professional relaxer:
Fighting and Making Up
Sunday, May 29th, 2011Fights are really common among chimpanzees. Being a caregiver you get used to the intense screaming, which often occurs even during fights with no contact between participants. You also know by the sounds when things have escalated. There was a conflict about a week ago which resulted in some minor bite wounds between Foxie and Burrito. After a brief squabble this afternoon, this pair spent a lot of time grooming each other.
The wounds were the initial focus of the grooming – chimps will closely inspect injuries on themselves and each other and clean them up by removing debris. So, grooming is good for their physical health. It’s also important for the social health of the group. The act of grooming is the chimpanzee way of healing and strengthening bonds. (For more on fighting and making up, see also J.B.’s post Conflict and Reassurance with amazing photos of a reassurance hug between Burrito and Foxie from May 4th).
Burrito
Foxie
Foxie grooming Burrito
sometimes grooming turns into playing – another great way to strengthen social bonds
Lazy days of summer
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011Okay, it’s not summer (yet), but we have been having a heatwave in Cle Elum: temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s with lots of sun. As a result, the greenhouse is toasty warm. Here’s Annie enjoying the reprieve from winter and doing a little self-grooming.
Happy Birthday Debbie Redwine
Thursday, January 20th, 2011Today is a sponsor-a-day in honor of Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest supporter Debbie Redwine.
Happy Birthday from the Sutter Coast Conglomerate Chimps, Debbie!
Here’s a photo of another chimpanzee conglomerate (Jody, Negra and Missy) to wish you a happy and relaxing day with friends:
Grooming
Tuesday, December 14th, 2010
Grooming is one of the most important activities in chimpanzee society. The caregivers at CSNW play an important role in the chimps’ social world, so we also groom with the chimps when they request it. Some of the chimps like to be groomed by their caregivers, but others, like Jamie, prefer to do the grooming.
Grooming
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010Missy and Annie spent some time grooming on the platform outside this afternoon. It had just started to sprinkle, so Missy covered herself up with a blanket to stay dry.
When chimps find something good during grooming (usually a piece of dead skin), they will often inspect it. Here, Annie is holding out her lower lip to check something out.
Grooming
Saturday, July 31st, 2010Grooming, generally a very calm activity, is a really important part of chimpanzee culture. It establishes and strengthens friendships and alliances. Chimps part the hair and pick out any debris or dead skin. They also will groom scabs off of themselves and each other.
Left to right: Missy grooms Burrito’s head. Burrito grooms Foxie’s back. Foxie grooms Burrito’s arm.
Annie (right) grooms Missy’s face. Chimpanzees often use their lips as well as their fingers to groom themselves and others.
Jody (left) and Missy (right) groom Jamie (center, wearing scarf of trolls). This photo was taken shortly after Jamie had been ill for a few days and had been separated briefly from the group (though they could all still see each other). Grooming is very common when chimpanzees are reunited after even a short separation.
