The caregivers at JACK Primate Sanctuary have been working diligently behind the scenes transitioning baby chimpanzees, Linda, Cal, and Mpo into the care of maternal chimpanzees. That’s right, the three orphans who once found comfort in the arms of each other and a surrogate human father, have begun integrating into a group of their own, starting with two surrogate chimpanzee mothers, Lynn and Maika.

When it was time to choose a surrogate mom for Linda, Cal, and Mpo, Maika was at the top of the list. She is a very maternal and very patient chimpanzee who can be described as “Roxanne in a chimp body”—which is quite the compliment! However, building a bond with the babies proved to be quite challenging for Maika. The three had been in human care for so long that they were not understanding Maika’s ‘chimp language.’ This frustrated Maika. But, like any good mom, she persevered. Maika’s persistence and patience eventually paid off. After about a month with the babies, something switched. Cal ran into Maika’s arms and the other two followed suit. They have been inseparable ever since.

Typically, mother chimpanzees in the wild only care for one baby at a time. Three babies was a lot to ask of Maika alone and although she was doing a great job building a trusting bond, the sanctuary decided to introduce a second surrogate, Lynn. Together, Lynn and Maika are caring for the three babies, teaching them skills such as grooming, nest building, and tool use.

Today, they are thriving in their small group of 5. They will continue to privately strengthen their bond before introducing Linda, Cal, and Mpo to an alpha male.