Quiet Bonds of Friendship

Quiet Bonds of Friendship

February 6, 2025 by Sabrina -

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If you think of chimp friendships like high school cliques – some are obvious showstoppers, while others fly under the radar. Mave and Dora? They’re the best friends everyone knows about. Missy and Annie? They’re obviously BFFs who can’t get enough of each other. But there’s this quieter duo that’s my personal favorite to watch: Rayne and Lucky.

We don’t see them take part in exuberant play or spending copious amounts of time grooming each other but when it’s quiet and things are winding down you’ll find these two napping together during the day, exchanging unwanted food items between each other at meals and building nests side by side at night.

Sure, there’s a pecking order – Rayne pulls rank on Lucky now and then, just like Missy does with Annie. But what makes their bond so special is when they’re at their most vulnerable, when it’s time to let their guard down and sleep, they choose each other. And in the complex social world of chimps, that’s worth more than all the playtime in the world.

Check out the blog video here

I already shared these photos for Rayne’s birthday, but they are worth re-posting:

Rayne & Lucky foraging together

Lucky & Rayne napping together today while caregivers were cleaning their rooms:

Lucky Rayne

6 Comments

Diane Kastel on February 6, 2025 at 4:23 pm

I realize that there is a pecking order, but, my heart goes out to Lucky who was, quietly, reading her magazine, on bonobos, when Rayne stole it. Not fair!
Linda C on February 6, 2025 at 4:44 pm

I felt the same….”aw, why can’t they share it!?”
Linda C on February 6, 2025 at 4:46 pm

Thanks, Sabrina!
It’s funny, I never think of hs girl cliques as fluid, but when I rewatched the “fall in love with” videos for these two, Rayne’s says her BFF is Honey B, which I found really odd!
I’m still marveling over saving that food you don’t want for your friend, instrad of discarding it. Do any of the other chimps do that?
Tobin on February 6, 2025 at 5:55 pm

Or, was Raynie observing “Banned Books Week” by demonstrating how censorship works? Obviously, some reading material is simply inappropriate for your (half-) kid sister…
Eli on February 7, 2025 at 7:58 am

I recall Rayne snatching a bonobo book from Lucky previously. Seems they’re quite the commodity. At least there’s no hard feelings!
Kathleen on February 9, 2025 at 6:53 am

I have often wondered about these two since we always see these two out and about on the Bray together. I wasn’t sure if they were Adventure Buddies only of if the connection continued inside. Since we hadn’t seen breathy laughter goof-balling play between these two girls, and because Lucky seems to be more of a private gal, avoiding the camera, I wasn’t sure how tight the friendship was between them. Very sweet that they choose to sleep side by side.

Thanks for giving us a better look at the quiet friendship of Rayne and Lucky. I guess we need to buy more Lucy bonobo books!!!

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