Chimpanzees at Monarto Safari Park are being introduced to the sights and sounds of Cassie ahead of the infant’s expected arrival from Rockhampton Zoo this month.
The primate team has begun showing members of the 12-strong troop photographs and videos of Cassie, as well as playing recordings of her vocalisations, as part of preparations for her move to South Australia.
Supervisor of Primates Laura Hanley said the familiarisation process was one small but important part of preparing the established troop for Cassie’s arrival.
“We’re preparing the Chimpanzee troop here at Monarto Safari Park for Cassie’s arrival, and that involves things like showing them pictures and videos of Cassie and playing some of the sounds she makes,” Laura said.
“It gives the troop an opportunity to become familiar with what Cassie looks and sounds like before she arrives.”
The team has previously used photographs of other Chimpanzees when working with the troop and has observed individuals responding to images of Chimpanzees they have lived with in the past.
“At times we’ve put up pictures of other members of the Chimpanzees’ families, and we’ve seen some really interesting responses,” Laura said.
“They can certainly recognise Chimpanzees they’ve lived with previously, so this gives us another way of preparing the troop for what is ahead.”
The familiarisation is also happening more than 2,000 kilometres away in Rockhampton.
The Rockhampton Zoo team has been showing Cassie videos of the Chimpanzees at Monarto Safari Park and playing recordings of their vocalisations, giving her an opportunity to experience some of the sights and sounds of the troop before her journey south.
The teams at Rockhampton Zoo and Monarto Safari Park have been working closely together ahead of the move, sharing vision, photographs and information to help prepare both Cassie and the established troop for the next stage.
Cassie has been receiving around-the-clock care from the team at Rockhampton Zoo since shortly after her birth.
Her move to Monarto Safari Park will give her the opportunity to grow up around other Chimpanzees and learn the social behaviours and skills that can only come from living alongside her own species.
Once Cassie arrives, she will initially be cared for in a specially prepared nursery area within the Chimpanzee facility.
Any introductions will happen gradually and will be guided by the behaviour and responses of both Cassie and the established troop, with no fixed timeframe for when she may meet individual Chimpanzees or potentially join the wider group.
The Chimpanzee habitat at Monarto Safari Park was designed to allow animals to be introduced progressively, giving the primate team flexibility to manage the process at the pace of Cassie and the troop.
The Monarto Safari Park troop ranges from youngsters through to experienced adult Chimpanzees, providing Cassie with the opportunity to be exposed to a complex social group as the introduction process develops.
Further updates on Cassie’s arrival and progress will be shared as she settles in.
As a conservation charity, Zoos SA has also launched a fundraiser to help support Cassie’s ongoing care, the additional resources needed as she settles into her new environment, and the specialised care involved in her transition and introductions. To support Cassie, visit donate.zoossa.com.au/cassie.
