Bring it on!

uprightbipedalist:

Save the chimps is having a members’ event this year and they posted this aerial shot of their new compound.
Why is it broken up into islands?
Wild chimps follow what’s called a “fission-fusion” social model. That means that they gather in large groups of about 100-150 at most individuals (the human version of this is sometimes called in common parlance one’s “Monkey circle,” a phrase which really grates on the nerves as chimps are not monkeys.) These large groups break up (“fission”) and re-form (“fusion”), but never cohere much larger than that 100ish chimp mark. I also seem to recall that their fission is usually a morning thing and that they re-fuse at night to sleep, but I think that I might be thinking of a different primate. Regardless, It’s not really productive to think of these groups as ‘tribes’ because they often break up and reform in different combinations, though in some subspecies of chimp, these groups are much more strict and will actively war against neighboring clans.
For chimps in sanctuaries, the model is not to have a large group of 100 or so, but to keep chimps in smaller groups where they would normally spend most of their time. Presumably, Save the Chimps was getting too big for their current enclosure and needed a new one, and designed this righteous system of islands.
Some sanctuaries in Africa have the same practice of putting chimps on Islands. It’s a good way of keeping them away from the general public and it reduces the amount of artificiality in their environment. The reason it works is what fascinates me, though: Most chimps are deathly afraid of water. I’m not entirely sure why, because with their upper body strength you’d think they’d be capable swimmers. Perhaps our ability to swim is what separated the most recent ancestor into the pan genus and the homo genus, but the aquatic ape theory really doesn’t hold water, in my opinion.
Interesting to note, though, is that some chimps aren’t afraid of water at all. This is actually in line with Andrew Whiten’s recent mindblowing research that there are many cultural dimensions (39, by his count) by which chimps vary. Most chimpanzee groups are terrified of water, but just one isn’t. Chimp culture, dude.
Anyway, kudos to Save the Chimps for their amazing work and their really cool modern / not-so-artificial compound.

Save the chimps is having a members’ event this year and they posted this aerial shot of their new compound.

Why is it broken up into islands?

Wild chimps follow what’s called a “fission-fusion” social model. That means that they gather in large groups of about 100-150 at most individuals (the human version of this is sometimes called in common parlance one’s “Monkey circle,” a phrase which really grates on the nerves as chimps are not monkeys.) These large groups break up (“fission”) and re-form (“fusion”), but never cohere much larger than that 100ish chimp mark. I also seem to recall that their fission is usually a morning thing and that they re-fuse at night to sleep, but I think that I might be thinking of a different primate. Regardless, It’s not really productive to think of these groups as ‘tribes’ because they often break up and reform in different combinations, though in some subspecies of chimp, these groups are much more strict and will actively war against neighboring clans.

For chimps in sanctuaries, the model is not to have a large group of 100 or so, but to keep chimps in smaller groups where they would normally spend most of their time. Presumably, Save the Chimps was getting too big for their current enclosure and needed a new one, and designed this righteous system of islands.

Some sanctuaries in Africa have the same practice of putting chimps on Islands. It’s a good way of keeping them away from the general public and it reduces the amount of artificiality in their environment. The reason it works is what fascinates me, though: Most chimps are deathly afraid of water. I’m not entirely sure why, because with their upper body strength you’d think they’d be capable swimmers. Perhaps our ability to swim is what separated the most recent ancestor into the pan genus and the homo genus, but the aquatic ape theory really doesn’t hold water, in my opinion.

Interesting to note, though, is that some chimps aren’t afraid of water at all. This is actually in line with Andrew Whiten’s recent mindblowing research that there are many cultural dimensions (39, by his count) by which chimps vary. Most chimpanzee groups are terrified of water, but just one isn’t. Chimp culture, dude.

Anyway, kudos to Save the Chimps for their amazing work and their really cool modern / not-so-artificial compound.

Bring it on!

I'm tom! I hail from the west side 'o' Chicago. I'm going to school to be an archaeologist. I get a kick out of vidya games and comic books and other rather obscure MISCELLANY. Sometimes I do stuff. Or I don't. Then, I blog about it here!