The Newsletter of FUNDACIÓ MONA
·
Issue 33
December 2016
d r e
What stage is the family in now? First of all, for those who are absent-minded, the group of the Family is formed by: Waty, Nico, Tico, Víctor, Afri, Tom, Coco, Bea and Cheeta. A total of five adult females and four adult males. So, all placed now, let’s get started! After Cheeta’s arrival, over one year ago already, we make a very positive balance of her integration, but there are still some group dynamics, not directly related to her though, that make it difficult to live in peace and harmony. And we call it “dynamics”, but we could call it Waty and Africa (Ups! I’ve let it out…). We still do subgroups everyday, because the 9 can’t share the big outdoor enclosure yet , since when Waty and Afri are together, they love looking for trouble. They only need an eye contact to kick start a chase after Tom and Bea, and get everyone upset. It is fair to say that is not only the females’ fault, but the utterly submissive and fearful attitude of Tom and Bea, that encourages the two little rascal as an invitation they can not miss. Victor of course joins the chases straight away, so he is usually also included in the gang of the difficult ones. So, how do we do it? Well, the combination of chimps that goes out in the big enclosure changes everyday, always under the premise that if it it Waty going out with the “new ones” (Tom, Coco, Bea and Cheeta), then Afri and Victor stay at the socializing cages. If Victor goes out, then it is the girls staying in the cages, and so on with Afri. Life at the group is nice and quiet when the hard core is split. Victor loves his fraternal love moments with Tom; Coco and Cheeta enjoy like crazy the outdoor enclosure, Nico and Tico continue each to his own, but peacefully… It is “only” a matter of time that BEa and Tom acquire some more confidence, but when will that happens is still a mystery... If you would like to stay up to date with the primates lives, almost in real time, follow us on our social media. You will find us as fundaciomona (Instagram & Twitter) and MONA Chimpanzee Sanctuary (Facebook).
Fundació MONA was created to put an end to illegal trade, exploitation and abuse of primates in captivity, to report the real risk of extinction and to support their protection in the wild. Close to Girona, MONA has established one of the few rescue centres in Europe that offers both a home-for-life for chimpanzees and other rescued primates, where they are able to live in natural surroundings. Mona is a place in which people become inspired, wish to further understand them, and develop a greater respect for them.