Animal caregivers at Chimp Haven perform daily morning, noon, and afternoon checks to ensure the well-being of all of the chimpanzees. On the morning of February 14th, one of the caregivers was performing a morning check when she saw something out of the ordinary: a tiny foot protruding from the hip pocket of Flora, one of the female chimpanzees. At first, the caregiver thought it was a stuffed animal or a trick of the light, but then Flora revealed a REAL, newborn baby girl! The caregiver immediately notified the rest of the staff, and the flurry of activity has not ended since!
Many of the chimpanzees in Flora’s group have shown great interest, including Flora’s two best friends, Gina and Ginger. The three girls have been spotted sitting or laying side by side on multiple occasions. If Flora and the baby move into another room, Gina and Ginger are sure to follow them. Another chimpanzee that has shown interest in the new arrival is Sarah. Sarah does not typically show affiliative (or friendly) behavior towards Flora, but since the baby has been born, there have been many reports of Sarah being very friendly towards Flora. Flora is an experienced mother, and she has shown wonderful maternal instincts thus far.
Welcome to the world, little one!
