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Chimpanzee Blog

Tarongas Chimpanzees Ready for 2010
Thursday 31st December 2009
As we’re coming to the end of the year and decade one last Chimpanzee update seems appropriate.Overall they’re enjoying their new surrounds, in particular, the cool of the den areas.
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Tarongas Chimps and Their Keepers Settle In by Senior Primate Keeper Allan
Monday 7th December 2009
It has been an interesting few weeks in the Orang-utan house since the Chimps moved in.
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Problem Solving Chimp Kuma Caught in Action
Tuesday 1st December 2009
We've been talking about how chimps are intelligent problem solvers.
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Dotting the i's and crossing the t's
Thursday 5th November 2009
Well, we are definitely getting down to the sharp end of things here in the Orang house in order to receive our Chimpanzees, and pretty much all the “ï’s” have been dotted and all the “t’s” crossed on the various plans and procedures that we have developed for the move.
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Status and Presence Chimpanzee Style
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
Last week was a fairly quiet week in social terms within our community. This is most likely down to the weather. It has not been the most pleasant and Chimpanzees, just like humans, tend to hunker down and ride out the more miserable conditions.
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Reconciliation between Lubutu and Chimbuka
Friday 23rd October 2009
There have been fantastic developments (for us keepers) within the male politics of Taronga’s Chimpanzee community. This week we saw an apparent reconciliation between Lubutu and Chimbuka. Both males were engaged in intense mutual grooming.
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Challenges to Lubutu's Leadership
Monday 12th October 2009
This week has been a great reminder for all of us who work with Chimpanzees.
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Not Long Now
Friday 2nd October 2009
Planning for the move is continuing at an increasingly frantic pace. Plans for which groups will move house together and in what order are pretty much finalised in our minds. What the Chimps think about all this we will see later on!
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Moving House Chimp Style
Thursday 24th September 2009
Our two Orang-utans have moved out. In a big step in the renovation of the Chimpanzee exhibit, they’ve gone to their new off-exhibit home so work modifying the side of the Orang House can go at full speed.
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Introducing the Chimpanzee Family at Taronga!
Monday 14th September 2009
My name is Allan and I am a Senior Keeper working in the Primate section here at Taronga Zoo. Even with all the amazing things that I have seen, I can honestly say that the continuing highlight of my career has been caring for the Chimpanzee community here at Taronga Zoo. Most people know that Taronga has Chimpanzees but few realise just how special our group is. And it's not just numbers, although having 19 Chimpanzees is something that many Zoos would aspire to. It’s the fact that Taronga’s Chimpanzees live as close as it is possible to the way Chimpanzees live in the wild, in a large, complex community. I often think that our Chimpanzees could make one of the best-ever soap operas!
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