We always think of them as children, but they grow up so fast and before you know it they're independent... This is about Chimpanzee at Tama Zoo. Here's an update on Anna, Bonbon, Mikan, Max, Jin, and Fubuki.

First, let me tell you about Anna (female), who is now nine years old. She is actually right in the middle of adolescence. In the wild, this is the age when they leave the group they were born and raised in and move to another group. Anna is also becoming more independent, and even when it's time to go back to her sleeping quarters in the evening, she often stays behind in the exercise area, separating herself from the group, and it seems as if she is deliberately causing trouble animal keeper. It is part of her mental development, but it is a source of worry because we cannot clean the area unless all the animals are returned to their sleeping quarters.

Eight-year-old Bonbon (male) is getting stronger every day. His permanent teeth, which were slow to come in and caused concern, have now grown in nicely. He's also started walking behind the leader, Kenta, more often, and it seems like he's developing a sense of male identity.

Eight-year-old Mikan (female), whose younger brother Fubuki was born, has naturally developed a sense of independence because her mother is preoccupied with the baby. Before her brother was born, she was a troublemaker who would pick fights with anyone and everyone, but since her brother was born, her mother has come to her rescue less often, and even when she gets into a fight, she now apologizes to the other person on her own.

Six-year-old Max (male, Anna's younger brother) has reached sexual maturity, so he is kept in a separate enclosure from the females in heat. Consequently, he and his mother now sleep in separate rooms. However, their rooms are adjacent to each other with large barred windows, so he sleeps peacefully at night.

Five-year-old Jin (male) is as energetic as ever. The only thing that's changed is that he now has a younger friend. He seems desperate to touch Fubuki, who Momoko is holding, and follows her around so persistently that Momoko occasionally scolds him.

The youngest, Fubuki (male), is now three months old and his facial features are becoming more distinct. Immediately after birth, he slept most of the time except when nursing, but recently he has been awake more often and observing his surroundings closely.

Chimpanzee have age divisions: the "infant stage" is from 0 to 4 years old, the "child stage" is from 5 to 7 years old, and the "young adult stage" is from 8 years old onwards. You can also distinguish them by their body size, so please use that as a clue when observing them.

Photo: Anna is interested in Fubuki

[Sayoko Tama Zoo, Tama Zoological Park]

(May 9, 2014)