South Africa

Sally. Photograph: Francois Theron

Our original three male chimps, Abu, Amadeus and Nikki, now have some female company. They have been joined in their enclosure by Lica, Mimi and Guida, also from Angola. The integration went relatively smoothly and the group is getting on well. Abu continues to be the alpha male, but Sanctuary Manager Phillip Cronje believes that Amadeus, the ‘thinker’ of the three, may soon challenge him for leadership.

While the males are great strapping, healthy chimps, the females still have a way to go. Phillip believes it will be at least a year before Lica picks up condition.

“Lica was kept in a hardware shop in Luanda, in a cage that didn’t allow her to stand up, let alone see the sun,” he says. “Lica also displays several non-chimp behaviours. For example, she walks long distances on her hind legs – abnormal for chimps, who usually only manage about 15 paces upright.”

Joao, the 44-year old gentleman rescued from the Maputo Zoo, has now fully settled into the other enclosure. He is wonderful with babies Sally and Zena, and puts Cozy, the younger male, firmly in his place when he misbehaves.

We are awaiting the outcome of blood tests on the remaining Angolan chimps, Zach and Jinga. Should they prove to be Bonobos, they will be released into an enclosure of their own. If not, Phillip will probably introduce the female, Jinga, to the Abu/Amadeus/Nikki camp, while Zach will join the “baby” camp.

The policy at the sanctuary is one of non-breeding, and all the girls have been contracepted. “Our work is to rescue chimps, not breed them,” says Phillip.