Chimpanzee "Kei" - Until she was able to live with her group
September 4, 2026
Kei, a female Chimpanzee born in July 1980 and kept at Tama Zoo, arrived from Tobu Zoo in 2017. Because Kei was raised by hand, she had little time to spend with other Chimpanzee and therefore did not have the opportunity to learn how to interact Chimpanzee, and she was not good at greeting others.
For Chimpanzee, who live in groups, communication with each other, including greetings, is very important. Greetings include actions such as extending a hand, showing one's backside, and hugging. If you don't understand these greetings and the rules of the group, you won't be accepted as a member.
Initially, Kei had difficulty getting along with other Chimpanzee, but now she is able to live in a group of several chimpanzees. I believe that Kei's own efforts and growth, as well as the support of the other chimpanzees who accepted her, played a huge role. This time, I will share how Kei built relationships with the other members of the group.
Kei began living with the gentle-natured chimpanzee "Decky" (male) in 2017, and about six months later, she was able to live with two other Chimpanzee, these three were the only ones who accepted Kei.
Furthermore, with the desire to increase the number of companions Kei can spend time with, in 2025, she began living with "Ibuki" (male), who had just left his parents, and "Nana" (female), who arrived from Asa Zoological Park in May of the same year.
Ibuki and Kei got along very well from the start. I remember being particularly impressed when I saw Kei's first clear greeting behavior. Kei touched Ibuki's rear end, a typical Chimpanzee greeting.
When Kei first lived with Nana, he didn't show any greeting behavior at first, but he didn't seem nervous at all and gradually approached Nana. When Nana greeted him by making noises or reaching out her hand, Kei suddenly seemed scared, slowly moved away a little, and returned the greeting with a voice. They sometimes fight, but now they spend time together in a relaxed manner. They can be seen grooming each other, and Nana seems to rely on Kei when she feels anxious.
Furthermore, with Miru giving birth safely in 2024 and Sakura in 2025, the group now consists of seven animals, including Decky, Sakura and her offspring, Miru and her offspring, Ibuki, and Kei. We will continue to work to ensure that Kei can live at her own pace and in a safe environment.
Currently, we are prioritizing providing a calm environment for newly arrived animals and are not exhibiting them in the outdoor enclosure. However, we plan to provide updates on animals that are not currently on display in the future.
[Tama Zoo Tama Zoological Park]