Chimp Haven Babies

Chimp Haven is a sanctuary for retired research chimps and not a chimpanzee breeding facility.  In fact, the philosophy is that chimps should be born in the wild, not in places where humans have put them.  Most of the community is elderly, with the majority of chimp residents being in their 50s.  Despite attempts to control breeding, there have been three babies born at Chimp Haven south of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Tracy is now a six-year-old and loves to climb the tall loblolly pines on their island.  Usually only wild-born chimpanzees will learn to climb trees.  Many research animals, until arriving at Chimp Haven, had never seen the sky nor had ever walked on anything other than concrete.  They are usually too afraid and are untrained in climbing trees.

After Tracy's birth it was discovered that a large percentage of the males in her colony had failed vasectomies and DNA testing proved her father was Conan.  He was revasectomized.

On February 14, 2012, Flora came out of the woods holding a newborn in her arms.  No one on the staff even knew she was pregnant.  The baby was named Valentina Rose and she is now 13 months old.  Her father was also to be discovered to be Conan, who underwent a third vasectomy, and the females, just as an added precaution, were put on birth control.  It is estimated that it will cost the facility $425,000 to care for Natalie during her lifespan.

Valentina and one of the adults seem to be having a very intense conversation here.

Flora, Valentina's mother (although both Flora and Ginger, Natalie's mother, seem to interact playing mother to both of the youngest girls) gives Valentina a gentle kiss while Natalie seems to be engrossed in something else.  Even though she has gray hair, Flora was 29 years old when Valentina was born.

Ginger is the mother of baby Natalie who was born on August 13, 2012.  I have not read if her father's identity has been determined.  Here Ginger carries both girls, Valentina on her back and Natalie on her belly, to get their share of the fruit distribution.  I hadn't even realized Natalie was also a passenger until I cropped the picture and saw the extra hands and feet hanging on for dear life to Ginger's side.

Ginger and Natalie sharing a mother/daughter moment.