Grooming
July 19, 2019 by J.B. -
Grooming has very little to do with hygiene. And while we tend to play up the political aspect of grooming, it’s not all quid pro quo, either. Sometimes it’s just a desire for comfort, or in Annie’s case, an expression of absolute and all-consuming love for her best friend, Missy.
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D’aw!
But Missy pays it back in other ways, right? I remember seeing video of the first days on Young’s Hill…….Missy kept turning around, waiting for Annie to catch up, and slowed her gallop down to a crutch-walk so that Annie could stay with her.
Or at Thanksgiving a year or so ago, when you gave us the long video we were hoping for (:P!), everyone started running upstairs……Missy was ready to climb the handrail into the loft, but she waited for her friend, as if to say “Come on, Annie! Come on!”
I think it’s reciprocated in ways beyond grooming (though Missy is a champion groomer).
Hi Linda – Yes, that’s true. I guess I was thinking more in terms of an explicit exchange. But investing in friendship has many important benefits for both mental and physical health, whether or not those goals are part of our conscious motivation.
I think we’re both right–thing is, these two both seem to know it’s mutual. Out of the seven, these two know the other has their back.
Annie and Missy. Missy and Annie. Where would one be without the other. It looks as if everything around them is simply glowing.
What a sweet relationship those two have… wonderful video, photo and post.. There is less actual “grooming” needed when they are not living in a flea/tick infested wilderness.. never-the-less it’s so cool that this necessity of nature/behaviour is such a bonding thing.. with or without parasites and wounds to care for it is such an expression of love and devotion. Thank you 🙂
I am do amazed at Annie.. Hos shecame up with the morning face washng. You wonder how she learned that. It’s so amazing what they come up with especially after all those years in research.
I am getting so excited to seethe new chimps.. Since they will have another male. Maybe he can teach Burriyo about sex.