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New family group finds its feet |
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Martha: part of a family after years of
isolation. |
Marco, Tamu and Mowgli: a rare moment of peace.
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Nine new youngsters – aged between one and six – have left quarantine quarters and are now entrancing visitors with their hilarious antics and newly-learned tree-climbing skills. They have settled well into their new enclosure in front of the restaurant, Junglicious, together with alpha female Jessica (25), Martha (14) and Suzie (7).
Eight of the youngsters were rescued from Sudan last year where they were cared for by Sue Knight until Eugene could bring them to the Sanctuary. The ninth, Lily, was rescued from Angola where she had been kept as a pet.
They had been in quarantine with Martha, who had been rescued from a Ghanaian zoo.
“When it was time to move them, we used a variety of devious means to catch all the youngsters, crate and carry them to their new enclosure,” says Phillip.
Martha was then darted, crated and moved. She was understandably nervous about going out into the enclosure for the first time.
“Martha has probably not seen grass since she was about two,” explains Phillip. “Since then, she was initially kept as a pet, and then at two different zoos in Ghana where home was a concrete cage.
”Martha refused to walk on the grass when first released. Instead, she kept to the dirt at the edges of the enclosure, and managed to shock herself on the electric fence. Poor Martha was then stung by a bee on her foot as she raced back to the night quarters.
“It then took about a month to entice her out again,” says Phillip. “We let her take her time – she would hover at the door, which we left open so she could get back in whenever she needed to.
”While the group was in quarantine, Martha was set to become the alpha female.
Ex-circus chimp, Jessica, however, has subsequently joined the group. At 25, and with more character and experience than the ex-Zoo chimp, she has taken over as the group’s leader.
“Martha will be second in charge once she’s overcome all her fears,” says Phillip.
Suzie, at 7, is a bit too boisterous for the babies and a little young to befriend the two older girls. She interacts well with Martha, however.
The babies were quick to adapt to their new home. Little Charleen, who battled with co-ordination when she arrived at the Sanctuary, is now a feisty little chimp and an excellent climber. She has also befriended Jessica who looks after her.
Little Lily, 3, has adopted Martha as her exclusive mum, which is very good for Martha. A fat little ball when she arrived, Lily has lost weight and reverted back to being with other chimps. Initially she was very fixated on people, wanting attention all the time.
“All have settled really well, and are far less interested in us than the previous group was, which is really gratifying,” says Phillip. “Each of the little ones has his or her own character. Five year old Marco has been pushing his luck recently, stamping his feet and flinging things until Jessica slaps him. They are all seeing where they fit in, and what they can get away with.”
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©
Jane Goodall Institute South Africa |
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