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http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/may/17/at-10-months-chimp-is-ever-curious/
(With video and photo gallery)

At 10 months, Knoxville Zoo's baby chimp George is ever curious 

A bit small for his age, he is fitting in nicely at the zoo 
By Amy McRary 
Sunday, May 17, 2009 

Ten-month-old George is a spindly-legged, skinny-armed chimpanzee brimming 
with curiosity and bravado.

The first chimp born at the Knoxville Zoo in 20 years likes eating fruit and 
Cheerios. His teeth are in and pearly white, but his mother Daisy will nurse 
him for several more years.

Perhaps slightly small for his age, George now enjoys swinging from ropes in 
the Chimp Ridge exhibit. His arms are just long and slender enough to reach 
through off-exhibit bars at passing zookeepers. When he walks he often pushes 
a small pile of hay - a sort of chimpanzee baby security blanket.

He may like the comfort of a hay bundle-blanket, but this primate is growing 
up without fear.

The zoo's adult apes, including George's father Jimbo, better not think about 
bothering Daisy. George, who likely weighs less than 10 pounds, isn't afraid 
to slap and bark a warning to a larger, older chimp.

Nine chimps, including George and his parents, live at the zoo. The park has 
long been home to the male Lu and females Debbie and Julie. Last year, just 
before George's birth, the zoo got three more female chimps. Jackie, Bo and 
Binti came from the Cleveland Zoo, where they once lived with Jimbo.

George's birth and staff shortages this year delayed introducing the new 
chimps to all of the others.

Keepers began that work in early May in hopes that all the animals will soon 
live together. Introducing strong, intelligent primates with different 
personalities and varying alliances can be tense. Ensuring a baby chimp 
doesn't get hurt adds to the tension; so does the fact that Bo and Binti had 
never encountered a baby chimp.

Keepers began by placing Debbie and Jackie together. Debbie is the dominant 
female of the Knoxville group; affable Jackie heads the trio that keepers 
often call "the Cleveland girls."

Over a few days, Julie and then Bo and Binti joined them. Daisy and George 
were added last.

Greeted happily by Debbie and hugged by Julie, Daisy let George crawl a few 
feet from her on their first day with their new companions. She spread flat 
on her stomach, head up and eyes moving. Debbie, who adores George, was his 
overt bodyguard. As he toddled, she lumbered a few feet ahead and waved her 
arms to brush aside any ape in his path.

For the six female chimps, life wasn't so steady. Spells of quiet were broken 
by screaming fights that ended as quickly as they began. Spats with a few 
minor injuries have continued.

Jackie and Debbie have become the group mediators.

"Chimps fight; that's what they do," said Lisa New, the zoo director of 
animal collections for mammals and birds.

George stays safe. It is as if the new chimps know they'd face dire 
consequences if he were picked on.

Daisy, Debbie and Julie have bonded over the baby.

"They are fierce," said New. "Nobody would dare touch him."

Keepers want the Chimp Ridge group to settle in more before placing Jimbo and 
Lu with them. They particularly want small, naturally nervous Binti to get 
more comfortable.

The other chimps have made friendly overtures toward Binti; George has tried 
to get her to play.

"He scared her and she threw hay at him," New said. "He approached her and 
she ran off."

George and Bo have interacted - briefly.

"It's not for George's lack of trying," said New. "He is not afraid of 
anything."

Amy McRary may be reached at 865-342-6437.

© 2008 Knoxville News Sentinel