Out of the forest

Today was our last day testing at the nursery so I feel obliged to write another post on life down there. We've done all our testing at the nursery in the early afternoon so the chimps have been in the forest all morning, and then they come back to play our games for a couple hours before they go back to the forest in the evening. Their personalities are never as transparent as when they return from the forest. The daring lead the charge ahead of the keepers and more timid chimps:


Those who are a little more shy check things out cautiously and stick tight if anything looks a little scary up ahead.


hugging always makes it a little easier though.


but then you have the rising alphas. They get up ahead of everybody and show off how tough they are. instead of going where they are supposed to, they find things to knock over and shake. These displays are a big part of chimp social life, and when an adult does it, its scary. These little guys aren't too scary yet but you can tell that it won't be long before you won't want to be in their way. ...and practice makes perfect.


after all the excitement is over we usually help in rounding up the crew..