New Old Friends

Brooke and Eddie

As anyone who has worked with behaviorally compromised primates can tell you, matchmaking can be a lengthy, frustrating endeavor for the monkeys… and the humans, but it’s well worth the effort.[teaserbreak]

It’s extremely important to the physical health and psychological well-being of primates to have social interaction with their own kind. For instance, grooming reinforces social structure, assists with cleanliness, and seems to provide a sense of belonging and relaxation that mitigates stress. With all of the positive effects cohabitation can provide, you can see why we place such a high value on it.

Coming from abnormal situations and having been reared in ways contrary to their natural history and genetic makeup, it’s a challenge to help these monkeys cohabit. Unfortunately, very few of the human-socialized monkeys at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary are skilled in appropriate monkey social behavior. Captive rearing of primates almost always leaves them with dramatically diminished social development.

Brooke was used in research for purposes we’ll never know. Prior to her arrival from the bankrupt Wild Animal Orphanage in September 2012, she had been housed with two other aging female rhesus macaques: Bobbie and Margaret. They resided next to three males but there was not much interaction. Upon arrival at our sanctuary, the six were introduced in a half-acre, open-topped enclosure. Though Brooke was a loner, they got along well (until Margaret died at almost 28 years old).

Margaret’s death seemed to change the group dynamics. Brooke began engaging in unusual behavior, challenging one of the males and then running and screaming into the lockout area. She was showing signs of considerable stress, and something would have to change—soon.

Eddie was a wreck when he arrived in January 2012. We don’t know how long he spent at a roadside zoo in Oklahoma before it shut down. All three macaques rescued from this substandard facility suffered severe lameness, lack of body conditioning, and social anxiety. They were fortunately placed with an excellent sanctuary, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR), Inc., but Eddie was ostracized by the other two and we agreed to help.

Despite his spunky energy and proper care at WRR, when Eddie arrived at our sanctuary, he was in poor physical condition. For months, he would slowly walk and climb in a hunched position. Though he still displays the curved back developed during his earlier confinement at the zoo, he now moves easily throughout his enclosure and appears to be pain-free.

However, Eddie didn’t understand how to show appropriate behavior and we were concerned that he might never be able to successfully live with another monkey.

In January, we moved Brooke out of her original group and into a single enclosure adjacent to Tweak, Maude, Elsie, and Eddie. Our first thought was that we had made a mistake; Brooke spent the first week hiding in her sleeping box, only coming out to eat.

Meanwhile, Eddie and Tweak were together. Though they weren’t openly fighting, Eddie avoided Tweak.

As we continued to monitor Brooke, we noticed that Eddie was spending time near her side of the enclosure. Then staff observed that, when Brooke came out of her safe house, she seemed comfortable sitting about 10 feet from Eddie.

After much discussion, we let Eddie into the single enclosure with Brooke.

It was amazing to watch as both damaged monkeys ignored each other while walking right past the other. Eddie would sit where Brooke had been and, trading spots, she would go where Eddie had last been. They repeatedly danced this slow, strange dance. Finally, after two days, I heard the call come over the radio: “Brooke is grooming Eddie!”

I realize that might not seem like a big deal to some, but to those of us who see so much pain and suffering, and who strive to help these animals every day, those excited words over a static-filled radio renewed our hearts with strength and purpose.

Brooke and Eddie now reside in a shady, secluded enclosure, where they give anyone who approaches an eyeful of menace and an earful of “leave us alone.” Perfect.

For the primates,
Tim