Monday, January 22, 2007
Chimps Gone Wild!
Normally one does not talk about wild chimpanzees. There is a general perception that most chimps are naturally wild. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. Many chimpanzees are like Tarzan’s Cheeta. I am not sure how he got that name—maybe because he started screeching to warn Jane of cheetahs in the vicinity. We just naturally assume that the guy with the vine already knew about their presence. But, in any event, it was a harsh scream. But that scream merely masked the gentle, suave personality beneath it. Cheeta starred in about 12 movies with Johnny Weissmuller, but made many other big and small screen appearances. His last was being in the flick Doctor Dolittle in 1967 with Rex Harrison. Soon after he retired to Palm Springs among the millionaires and continues to receive distinguished guests such as Jane Goodall. He spends much of his spare time watching TV and has taken up painting. He donates the proceeds from his artwork to primate charities. Cheeta will be 75 years old on April 9.
Now not all chimps are destined to be philanthropists. Let’s suppose that you had been locked in a cage for 18 years and one day someone forgot to lock the cage. How about a wild night on the town? Well, that scenario presented itself to 37-year-old Judy at the Little Rock Zoo. Exactly what did she did when she woke and found her freedom? Well, first she made a beeline for the kitchen and helped herself to all kinds of chimp snacks and soft drinks. But then she did something really unexpected. She picked up the toilet brush and cleaned the bowl and then she took a sponge and wiped down the refrigerator. Her keepers finally drugged her and got her back into her cage. They reported that there was never any danger that she could have found her way into the zookeepers quarters or into the zoo grounds itself. Danger? Wild chimp on the loose? Of what were they afraid? That she might actually tidy up their quarters? One can never tell about a chimp gone wild.
Meanwhile a couple of hundred miles to the south, a major mystery has enveloped Chimp Haven in Shreveport, LA. A 40-something female went missing early in the morning. When she finally surfaced, she was carrying a newborn chimp. Talk about some wild nights on the town. But Teresa’s keepers were in a real dither. All seven of her known male associate had had vasectomies. See previous paragraph about unlocked doors. The officials at Chimp Haven have started collecting chimp hair from her seven known associates for a paternity test. See previous paragraph about unlocked doors. If the guilty party can be identified, he will be back under the knife in short order. You just cannot have frisky young males getting a 40-year-old pregnant. That would never do. What would people think? Then there is the eternal question who is going to support the baby chimp. Hint! Get in touch with Cheeta in Palm Springs.
Normally one does not talk about wild chimpanzees. There is a general perception that most chimps are naturally wild. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. Many chimpanzees are like Tarzan’s Cheeta. I am not sure how he got that name—maybe because he started screeching to warn Jane of cheetahs in the vicinity. We just naturally assume that the guy with the vine already knew about their presence. But, in any event, it was a harsh scream. But that scream merely masked the gentle, suave personality beneath it. Cheeta starred in about 12 movies with Johnny Weissmuller, but made many other big and small screen appearances. His last was being in the flick Doctor Dolittle in 1967 with Rex Harrison. Soon after he retired to Palm Springs among the millionaires and continues to receive distinguished guests such as Jane Goodall. He spends much of his spare time watching TV and has taken up painting. He donates the proceeds from his artwork to primate charities. Cheeta will be 75 years old on April 9.
Now not all chimps are destined to be philanthropists. Let’s suppose that you had been locked in a cage for 18 years and one day someone forgot to lock the cage. How about a wild night on the town? Well, that scenario presented itself to 37-year-old Judy at the Little Rock Zoo. Exactly what did she did when she woke and found her freedom? Well, first she made a beeline for the kitchen and helped herself to all kinds of chimp snacks and soft drinks. But then she did something really unexpected. She picked up the toilet brush and cleaned the bowl and then she took a sponge and wiped down the refrigerator. Her keepers finally drugged her and got her back into her cage. They reported that there was never any danger that she could have found her way into the zookeepers quarters or into the zoo grounds itself. Danger? Wild chimp on the loose? Of what were they afraid? That she might actually tidy up their quarters? One can never tell about a chimp gone wild.
Meanwhile a couple of hundred miles to the south, a major mystery has enveloped Chimp Haven in Shreveport, LA. A 40-something female went missing early in the morning. When she finally surfaced, she was carrying a newborn chimp. Talk about some wild nights on the town. But Teresa’s keepers were in a real dither. All seven of her known male associate had had vasectomies. See previous paragraph about unlocked doors. The officials at Chimp Haven have started collecting chimp hair from her seven known associates for a paternity test. See previous paragraph about unlocked doors. If the guilty party can be identified, he will be back under the knife in short order. You just cannot have frisky young males getting a 40-year-old pregnant. That would never do. What would people think? Then there is the eternal question who is going to support the baby chimp. Hint! Get in touch with Cheeta in Palm Springs.
