8-year-old Gerald is one of three young males at Bulindi entering adolescence. Unlike his more adventurous age-mates Jack and Araali, Gerald has been slow to embrace independence and was, until recently, rather a mummy's boy. This is perhaps because his mum Mirinda is an affectionate female who keeps her older offspring close, even though she has younger infants to care for. This year, however, Gerald has begun seeking the company of older males and spending time apart from Mirinda. Gerald has inherited Mirinda's calm personality, and we expect him to grow up to become a well-rounded and likeable young male.
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Bulindi's beta male MURRY.
Murry is in his late-twenties. As a young adult, he rarely performed bluff displays and seemed uninterested in politics. In the last two years, however, his character has undergone an unexpected transformation. Though he remains respectful of alpha male Sylvester, Murry has assumed the role of 'policeman' in the group, quick to discipline unruly youngsters. Increasingly, he can be bad-tempered. With several young males growing up in the group, it appears Murry has no intention of relinquishing his role as Bulindi's beta male. Could he even be plotting to take over from Sylvester? It was unthinkable not so long ago... . Mirinda is about as nice a chimpanzee as you could hope to meet. She's in her mid-twenties and solidly built, but she isn't high-ranking. She's very social and good-natured, and popular with the other chimps and human observers alike. She's the queen of grooming, always happy to groom other chimps even if they don't always groom her in return.
A mother of four (Jemima, Gerald, Merrick and Maria), and grandmother of one (Kasatu), Mirinda has passed on her even, friendly temperament to all of her offspring. Her close-knit family form a calm and stable core of Bulindi society. Mirinda is easily recognised by her round brown face and floppy right ear. JOYCE is the oldest chimp at Bulindi; she's probably in her mid-forties. Joyce's last known offspring is her ten-year old daughter Jenny, though she continued to cycle regularly until as recently as last year, apparently without becoming pregnant. Joyce is an Olympic napper and can usually be spotted resting quietly in a day nest.
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