Infant Chimpanzee Cassie is beginning to interact and play with members of Monarto Safari Park’s 12-strong Chimpanzee troop as her carefully managed introduction reaches an encouraging new stage.

Nearly three weeks after arriving at Monarto Safari Park from Rockhampton Zoo, Cassie has been taking part in closely supervised interactions with members of the troop through protective mesh.

Primate Supervisor Laura Hanley said the interactions were providing the primate team with encouraging signs as Cassie continues to settle into her new surroundings.

“It has been fascinating watching the troop interact with Cassie. They have been really intrigued by her from the moment she arrived and we’re now starting to see some very special behaviours,” Laura said.

One of the most remarkable interactions has involved members of the troop using sticks to make contact with Cassie through the mesh.

Because Cassie cannot yet safely reach through the barrier, some of the Chimpanzees have found another way to interact with her, carefully selecting sticks and extending them through the mesh.

“We call it ‘bridging the gap’,” Laura said.

“The chimps will get a stick, sometimes shape it so there are some small leaves remaining on the end, and gently put it through the mesh towards Cassie.

“She’ll reach out and hold onto it while the chimp holds the other end. It gives them a way to interact and play while still maintaining that important physical separation.”

The interactions are closely supervised by experienced Chimpanzee keepers, who monitor the behaviour of both Cassie and the troop and determine when and how interactions can safely occur.

There have also been encouraging signs of play between Cassie and several members of the troop.

Adult male Gombe was recently observed responding to Cassie after she rolled onto her back during an interaction.

“When Cassie flopped onto her back, Gombe did the same thing on the other side of the mesh and put his feet in the air,” Laura said.

“Cassie started laughing and Gombe began panting and laughing back at her. Seeing them responding to each other like that was fantastic.”

Young male Happy, who turns four in December, has also shown interest in Cassie and regularly approaches when she is climbing and playing.

Female members of the troop have been spending time sitting near Cassie and closely observing her, with the infant’s distinctive white tuft helping identify her as a young Chimpanzee.

“The females will often just sit next to her and watch,” Laura said.

“That white tuft is an important visual signal in Chimpanzees that she is an infant, and we’re seeing the troop responding to her in really encouraging ways.”

While the early interactions are positive, Cassie still has several important developmental and training milestones to reach before any direct introduction to a member of the troop can be considered.

The primate team is continuing to work with her on crawling, climbing and building her physical strength, following advice from an orthopaedic specialist after an injury to her leg early in life.

Cassie is also learning to take her bottle through the mesh, an important behaviour that will allow keepers to continue providing feeds when she is eventually spending time with another Chimpanzee.

“Right now it is about working through those milestones with Cassie and letting everything happen at the pace that is right for her,” Laura said.

“We need her climbing well, moving confidently and accepting her feeds through the mesh before we take the next steps.”

The Monarto Safari Park primate team is also consulting with specialists in the United States who have experience introducing hand-reared infants into established troops.

“It has been really reassuring speaking with colleagues who have successfully worked through introductions like this before and hearing that what we’re seeing and the approach we’re taking are on the right track,” Laura said.

“There is still a long way to go and we won’t rush the process, but Cassie is doing really well and the interactions we are seeing from the troop have been incredibly encouraging.

“We’re looking forward to seeing how those relationships continue to develop.”

Her introduction to the troop will continue gradually, with Cassie’s welfare and development determining the timing of every stage.