Biographies—Donald

Donald is an adult male chimpanzee in his late thirties. We don’t know his exact age because in the 1960’s, pet chimps were mostly wild-caught—as opposed to being bred in the United States. For all we know, this noble gentleman might still have memories of some distant African forest, his mother’s death and his subsequent kidnapping, and the long trans-Atlantic freight shipment to a dealer in America.

Donald Copyright © 2007 Alan Li

It may strike you as anthropomorphic to call Donald a gentleman, but to those who know him, it is the only fitting term. For years Donald was the only adult male, and by default, the dominant male. Unlike some primate leaders, Donald has never been brutal. Over the years he has exerted his authority by intervening during fights, or by pairing with the most attractive females. Still, he becomes upset with unnecessary violence amongst his group and always accepts submissive gestures from his fellow troop members to resolve the issue. He is always willing to work with his human caregivers, and seems to understand that they truly have his troop’s best interests in mind. For example, he is always willing to move from one area of the enclosure to the next for cleaning, and will chase the others out as well.

One of Donald’s favorite pastimes is to stay outside during the early evening and into the night. Perhaps he feels better able to protect his troop while outdoors, or maybe he just likes the view of the moon and stars. Whatever the reason, the much larger outdoor enclosure has really benefited Donald.

As Donald ages, the younger male chimpanzees have begun to challenge him, usually by starting fights with the girls and other times by brazenly hooting and stomping. Ike has become an especially challenging character for Donald to deal with. As young Ike gets bigger and stronger, the disputes between him and other group members may cause unrest. It is inevitable that Donald will eventually cede authority to one of the younger fellows. It is our fervent hope that whomever takes the dominant position next will be a gentleman, as is our dear Donald.