One evening, I witnessed the moment when Decky, a 41-year-old Chimpanzee, returned to his room and took a deep breath of relief.

That day, the female "Kei" (38 years old) was practicing living with other individuals. Decky played an important role in protecting Kei from the other individuals and making her feel safe.

Left: Decky Right: Kei, who relies on Decky		Decky gently mediates between everyone.

After practice, once Decky had returned to his room and finished his evening meal, I went to Chimpanzee enclosure to give him some water and offered him some slightly warmed water. Decky drank it all in one gulp and let out a sigh of relief. It was as if he was completely at ease, like when we relax with a cup of tea after a meal.

We too sometimes feel a sense of relief when we return to a safe place after a hectic day. But perhaps we can only show that moment to a limited number of people, such as family and close friends?

It's been a year since I started working with Chimpanzee. When I first started, I was confused and anxious. This is because the animals I had worked with before were mainly herbivores, and I had no experience with Chimpanzee or other apes; in fact, they were animals I was rather uncomfortable around. As a result, at first I couldn't really understand Chimpanzee' feelings, and I was constantly nervous. Looking back now, I think Chimpanzee also had a hard time getting their feelings across to me back then, and we were both tense.

As with any animal, connecting with them requires effort. It's important to take your time to get to know each other and build a relationship little by little. When I felt I could read the expressions of each Chimpanzee a little, the tension between them and me gradually began to ease. And when I saw Decky in his relaxed, natural state, I felt that I had grown a little closer to Chimpanzee over the past year.

The importance of building relationships gradually and steadily—this applies not only to animals but also to human society, doesn't it? As we enter the new fiscal year, many people are feeling anxious about starting a new life. At times like these, it might be a good idea to consciously take your time and slowly build relationships.

[Kaori Ito, Animal Care and Exhibition Staff, North Tama Zoo]

(April 5, 2019)