PERCEPTION ABILITY

SOROCABA SANCTUARY

PERCEPTION ABILITY

A few days ago I changed my cap. Normally I use one of GAP (left on the photo), but one day I used one from Anami Institute, the organization that supports Curitiba sanctuary. Then I started to observe the reaction of the chimpanzees. In the morning, Carolina noticed the change and asked me to see it close. Claudio did the same. This was happening throughout the day and the ones who had paid attention immediately were Vitor, Carlos, Mônica, Billy and Billy Jr. It is interesting to see that the four sons of Lulu noticed the cap change immediately. This indicates the function of genetics in chimpanzees, for they inherited the perception ability from their mother without even have lived with her.

Some insisted on seeing closely, because they want to see the photo printed on the cap. The photo is of a chimpanzee that lives in Curitiba sanctuary, Lucas, who they do not know. Carlos and Vitor asked me to repeat the names of the ones in GAP's cap - Guga and Claudio - and then to say the name Lucas, of Anami's cap.

Therefore, the perception ability is extraordinarily precise. When I change my clothes or shows, they notice it and ask me to show closely. Vitor and Claudio, and also Samantha, love new clothes, especially those that are soft and brilliant. They pass their hands through them with a noticeable pleasure.

A few days ago I had to put a little sling on my left pulse, which was injured when I tried to separate a chimpanzee during a fight. In the following day, when I started to use it, everyone asked me to show. They wanted to heal the wound with saliva, which is their habit, or open the sling to see how my hand was. Some days later, after I took it off, they remembered and asked to see my hand. My hand was still sore and they did massages on her with their lips.

Chimpanzees learn very fast and this results of the great perception ability that they have. In a minute they learn any movement, technique, facial expressions and how to use any tool. Their learning spirit is so big that sometimes we get frustrated for not being able to explain something that we want to transmit them in detail, using oral or written language. But they do not give up.

Dr. Pedro A. Ynterian
President, GAP Project International