Animal caregiver Judith van der Loo: "We had suspicions, of course, as we observed various matings with Nadine, and she was getting thicker over the past weeks. Secretly, we did consider the possibility of her being pregnant, despite the negative test results. If we counted, the birth would take place in November. So, it was a surprise that the little one suddenly arrived in October!"

Daughter Present Throughout

The little chimpanzee was born in peace on Tuesday morning, October 24, in the presence of the group. Van der Loo: "We already noticed that the mother was taking more rest on Monday and losing mucus. Therefore, we decided to bring the chimpanzee group inside. It causes the mother a lot of stress when she is separated. Also, it can lead to panic among the other chimpanzees when a small one appears suddenly. Moreover, such a moment is crucial for the young generation in the group: they learn a lot from it. Nadine's older daughter is present throughout. She is so curious!"

The identity of the father is still unknown. "The males in the group have all mated with Nadine, and because the father is unknown, they will never naturally take full responsibility for the care of the young one: they all contribute. We will have the DNA tested because it is essential information for the management program," said the caregiver.

Threats

The European management program ensures a genetically healthy reserve population of chimpanzees in zoos. In the wild, chimpanzees face many threats. The forests where they live are being cleared mainly for agriculture, but also for mining.

In addition, the species is also captured to be kept as pets. Chimpanzees are also hunted for meat, the so-called bushmeat. Although bushmeat is illegal, it is considered a luxury delicacy.

Jane Goodall Institute

Through the Wildlife Foundation, Beekse Bergen supports the Jane Goodall Institute. This organization is dedicated to research, education, welfare, and conservation related to great apes, primarily chimpanzees.

The institute achieves this by rescuing orphaned or poached chimpanzees, deploying anti-poaching units, training rangers, providing information and education to local communities about protecting endangered wildlife. They also support community projects for sustainable agriculture.

White Tuft of Hair

The first four years of a chimpanzee's life are noticeable because they have a white tuft of hair above their buttocks. Van der Loo: "The white tuft is, in a way, a kind of trump card for young animals: it serves as a signal to group mates that they can play pranks and get away with it." Once the tuft disappears, the animals become adults, and the privileges fade away.

Photo/video credits: Beekse Bergen