HULK AND TATÁ: A NEW COUPLE IN THE SANCTUARY

HULK AND TATÁ: A NEW COUPLE IN THE SANCTUARY

 

SOROCABA SANCTUARY

 

Hulk arrived at the Sanctuary nine months ago. During 34 years he had been exploited with economical purposes and now he has peace. Tatá, who came from Goiânia zoo almost six months ago, was living with Tião, Carlos and Noel. But, due to problem she had in her mouth, she had to be separated to take the medicines, not to compromise the treatment. In order not to leave her alone, we took her to the upper side of the Sanctuary, where she would be near us. Thos would be very useful to the treatment and also she would be able to have contact with Hulk, who she already knew by sight through the window of the enclosure (she was able to see him every time she took her way down using the big fence).

 

We took Tatá using the enclosures with fences and, by the time she arrived in the upper enclosure, she did not want to enter the other enclosure with walls and stood on the fence. Hulk, who was in the enclosure beside, just observed and followed Tatá with his eyes while she walked. After one day in the fence, we realized that Hulk and Tatá wanted a closer contact. Hulk followed her, Tatá gave him her hand. Then, we allowed their union.

 

In the beginning it was tense as always, because, even they seem to get on well, the union is always a different situation that demands some care. We stood up in strategic places and opened the doors between them. Hulk showed territorialism. After all, what is this girl doing in my fence? He shivered and yelled, warning that he would run towards her. On the other hand, Tatá, showing her "peace and love" style, did some yelling and ran, avoiding a direct confront with him. Hulk's behavior is unusual because it demonstrates not only the dominance of the territory, but also the fear of being in contact with other chimpanzee. After all, Hulk did not have contact with other chimpanzees, only with humans, which makes us realize that he does not know what to do in the presence of another chimpanzee.

 

After a while, Tatá got tired of running and stood still. When Hulk got near she retaliated against him with slaps. By the time he noticed she was too naïve, Hulk eased the attacks and even tried to get close without running or being brave. But Tatá, on the other hand, still suspected of the behavior and respond the approximation with more slaps. At this moment Hulk decided to get into one of the tunnels and do some contact through the holes of the wall. There he opened his mouth towards Tatá, like he does to us, in a clear sign of fun and friendship. However, she got scared and yelled in the beginning, but Hulk insisted and she also put her mouth near his, touching each other as they were kissing. It was a demonstration that the feelings of fear and fight had came to an end. Now friendship reigns them. Through the same holes more kisses were given and they started to play with their hands. Then they decided to meet outside the tunnel and started to do grooming with one another. It tool almost thirty minutes for them to reach this closeness, one of the contacts that took long to happen between the ones I witnessed at the Sanctuary.

 

After all that we conclude that raising is very important to our brothers too, because there are times that it can make it impossible the union between chimpanzees. Tatá always lived in groups, but did not have the contact with humans as intense as Hulk did. She has primitive attitudes, typical of a chimpanzee, such as the act of give back to a male, in a sign of submission and to calm down a tense situation. On the other hand she is not able to hold an opened bottle without dropping the liquid. Hulk, who lived together and in a very intense way with humans, had the opportunity to develop his intellectual skills, which allows him to open a bottle and carry it without dropping what is inside. But he does not know how to behave and act with other of the same species.

 

This union promises to result in many benefits to both of them, because it is the chance to Tatá to develop and learn new things with Hulk, who also has now the opportunity of living with an equal in a free and happy environment, the right that every primate deserve.

 

Msc. Luiz Fernando Leal Padulla

Biologist