I recently had the opportunity to view the short documentary, Pant Hoot. It’s a stunning story about Stany, a genocide survivor who has learned the language of chimpanzees and teaches viewers just how much of a connection we can share with these animals. It’s such a touching and beautiful story that’s chock-full of information about chimpanzees that will leave you thinking long after you’re finished watching. Here is the interview that I had the opportunity to do with the amazing Stany himself!
What is your life like when you’re working with the chimpanzees at Chimp Eden?
Working with chimpanzees is very rewarding but also challenging. Living far away from family, friends and my culture is not always easy, but these chimpanzees have been through a lot and need more care, as many have mental, physical and behavioural issues that need extra attention. Working with chimps of course also includes lots of cleaning, feeding, and medicating. Almost like looking after toddlers that never grow up, just slightly more dangerous.
What is one of the most valuable lessons you have learned while working with chimpanzees?
That all animals deserve respect and protection no matter how misunderstood or dangerous they are, and that all animals have an important role to play in the environment, and it is our responsibility to save them and protect their forests. Seeing the trauma that these chimpanzees still live with every day is heartbreaking, but an important lesson I’ve learnt from chimpanzees is that you have to be able to laugh and forgive. They give us so many things to laugh and smile about every day and you have to look for those silver linings in life. Another important lesson I’ve learnt from chimpanzees is that your work can only be as good as the tools you have. Chimpanzees are very good at making and using tools and those skills are often passed on through generations.
You’ve spent a lot of years observing and communicating with chimpanzees. What behaviours do you find the most fascinating?
The bonds and relationship they form with each other that last a lifetime. Chimpanzee politics are so interesting and seeing how they change through adolescence into adulthood and how each one climb the ranks is fascinating. Learning and observing their politics is key in learning how to understand and interpret their behaviour. Teamwork is another interesting behaviour and seeing how they choose their friends and alliances are so similar to humans and each ones personality plays a very important role.
The Chimp Eden sanctuary is home to some very unique chimpanzee personalities. Is there a process that you go through when you introduce a new chimpanzee into the sanctuary?
Yes, each situation will differ slightly, but they all start with a quarantine period, during which time you can observe and get to know the chimpanzee’s personality. Based on his/her background, age, sex and their chimp experience, the decision will be made as to which family is best suited for the new arrival. Introducing chimpanzees is no exact science and you have to be patient and change as you observe their reaction and the other family member’s behaviour. Introductions can sometimes take a very long time, but seeing how long chimpanzees can live for, it is worth doing it right and giving them enough time to adjust, as hasty decisions can often lead to injury or death.
Finally, I wanted to ask, what is your favourite activity to do with the chimpanzees?
Due to chimpanzees being highly intelligent animals that can easily get bored, enrichment is very important to stimulate their minds and thinking process. You constantly have to change the activity and make it more challenging. There is nothing chimpanzees like more than a good challenge, and they don’t easily give up. You have to get creative and often think like a chimpanzee to make effective enrichment activities. I also enjoy studying their vocalisations, and doing the pant hoot which is interesting to see how they respond, play and communicate with me. They often invite us to play with them, but only if you know their body language and vocalisations can you understand them.
