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June 2010 Update From Primate Behavior Intern Erica Perez
Kibibi Grows More Independent
While completing a three-month internship studying primate behavior at the National Zoo's Great Ape House, I had the privilege of monitoring and documenting baby Kibibi's increasing independence from her mother, Mandara. I had initially predicted that food would be the greatest contributing motivator toward her growing independence, but after analyzing the many hours of observations performed, I discovered that social and independent play served more as a catalyst for her growing curiosity and maturity.
During those few months, I got to know Kibibi's personality inside and out. Her favorite activities include interacting with her older brother Kojo, playing with various enrichment items, and foraging for yummy grapes. She loves climbing up the sides of the enclosures and has perfected this skill to escape her fellow group members when finding her favorite foods during a forage. Although she is spending increased amounts of time with her big brothers and sister, she is still dependent on her mother. When Kojo starts playing too rough or carries her too far away, Kibibi sounds for her mother, and Mandara intervenes.
Overall, the majority of her day was spent resting and in direct contact with Mandara. During their lazy afternoon hours, Mandara could often be found carrying Kibibi on her back while climbing into a fire hose hammock to take a nice nap—although a nap isn't always on Kibibi's agenda! While mom is resting, Kibibi will play independently with enrichment items such as plastic milk crates, sheets, and boomer balls. Drumming on objects in the enclosure and clapping her hands are among her newly acquired talents.
Kibibi also demonstrated a great deal of increased independence in the gorilla yard. At the beginning of the three-month study, she was rarely seen at a distance greater than an arm's reach away from Mandara, and most of their time was spent resting in isolation away from the group on the platforms of the large climbing structure.
By the end of the study, Kibibi had gained a great deal of confidence in being more independent from her mother's constant presence. She was frequently seen climbing off Mandara's back to forage and explore. At times she was even observed preoccupying herself on the opposite side of the yard from her mother. The recent yard renovation provided Kibibi and her group with additional limbs for climbing and new attachments for enrichment feeders.
As Kibibi's independence continuous to increase, she is becoming more of an individual with her own personality. She is relying more heavily on her relationships with her siblings and other family members and learning important gorilla social skills. She manages to put a smile on anyone's face who meets her, and watching her every move these past few months was such a joy!
